THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


if 

n 
I 


Sir  Henry  Morgan — Buccaneer. 


u/r  J~fenry  Ivlorgan, 
BUCCANEER 

n 

A  Romance  of  the  Spanish  Main 


c-      BT 

CYRUS  TOWN  SEND  BRADY 

Author  of  "  For  Love  of  Country,"    "  For  the  Freedom  of  the  Sea,' 

"  The  Southerners "  " Hohenzollern"  "  The  Quiberon  Touch" 

"  Woven  with  the  Ship"  "  /«  ;£e  Wasp's  Nest,"  Etc. 


Illustrations  by 
J.  N.   MARCH  AND  and  WILL   CRAWFORD 


G.  W.  DILL1NGHAM    COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS  k«-  NEW  YORK 


COPYRIGHT,  1903,  BY 
THE   PEARSON  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

COPYRIGHT,  1903,  BY 
G.  W.  DILLINGHAM  COMPANY 

COPYRIGHT,  1903,  IN 
GREAT    BRITAIN 

\_All  rights  reserved] 


Sir  Henry  Morgan,  Buccaneer  Issued  October, 


TO   MT   ONLY  BROTHER 

COLONEL  JASPER    EWING   BRADY 

LATE    U.   S.   ARMY 


"  Woe  to  the  realms  which  he  coasted!  for  there 
Was  shedding  of  blood  and  rending  of  hair, 
Rape  of  maiden  and  slaughter  of  priest, 
Gathering  of  ravens  and  wolves  to  the  feast; 
When  he  hoisted  his  standard  black, 
Before  him  was  battle,  behind  him  wrack, 
And  he  burned  the  churches,  that  heathen  Dane, 
To  light  his  band  to  their  barks  again." 

SCOTT:   "  Harold  the  Dauntless." 


PREFACE 

In  literature  there  have  been  romantic  pirates, 
gentlemanly  pirates,  kind-hearted  pirates,  even  hu 
morous  pirates — in  fact,  all  sorts  and  conditions  of 
pirates.  In  life  there  was  only  one  kind.  In  this 
book  that  kind  appears.  Several  presentations — in 
the  guise  of  novels — of  pirates,  the  like  of  which 
never  existed  on  land  or  sea,  have  recently  ap 
peared.  A  perusal  of  these  interesting  romances 
awoke  in  me  a  desire  to  write  a  story  of  a  real  pirate, 
a  pirate  of  the  genuine  species. 

Much  research  for  historical  essays,  amid  ancient 
records  and  moldy  chronicles,  put  me  in  possession 
of  a  vast  amount  of  information  concerning  the 
doings  of  the  greatest  of  all  pirates;  a  man  unique 
among  his  nefarious  brethren,  in  that  he  played  the 
piratical  game  so  successfully  that  he  received  the 
honor  of  knighthood  from  King  Charles  II.  A 
belted  knight  of  England,  who  was  also  a  brutal, 
rapacious,  lustful,  murderous  villain  and  robber — 
and  undoubtedly  a  pirate,  although  he  disguised  his 
piracy  under  the  name  of  buccaneering — is  certainly 
a  striking  and  unusual  figure. 


PREFACE 


Therefore,  when  I  imagined  my  pirate  story  I 
pitched  upon  Sir  Henry  Morgan  as  the  character  of 
the  romance.  It  will  spare  the  critic  to  admit  that 
the  tale  hereinafter  related  is  a  work  of  the  imagina 
tion,  and  is  not  an  historical  romance.  According 
to  the  latest  accounts,  Sir  Henry  Morgan,  by  a 
singular  oversight  of  Fate,  who  must  have  been 
nodding  at  the  time,  died  in  his  bed — not  peace 
fully  I  trust — and  was  buried  in  consecrated  ground. 
But  I  do  him  no  injustice,  I  hasten  to  assure 
the  reader,  in  the  acts  that  I  have  attributed  to 
him,  for  they  are  more  than  paralleled  by  the  well 
authenticated  deeds  of  this  human  monster.  I  did 
not  even  invent  the  blowing  up  of  the  English  fri 
gate  in  the  action  with  the  Spanish  ships. 

If  I  have  assumed  for  the  nonce  the  attributes 
of  that  unaccountably  somnolent  Fate,  and  brought 
him  to  a  terrible  end,  I  am  sure  abundant  justifica 
tion  will  be  found  in  the  recital  of  his  mythical  mis 
deeds,  which,  I  repeat,  were  not  a  circumstance  to 
his  real  transgressions.  Indeed,  one  has  to  go  back 
to  the  most  cruel  and  degenerate  of  the  Koman 
emperors  to  parallel  the  wickednesses  of  Morgan 
and  his  men.  It  is  not  possible  to  put  upon  printed 
pages  explicit  statements  of  what  they  did.  The 
curious  reader  may  find  some  account  of  these 
"Gentlemen  of  the  Black  Flag/'  so  far  as  it  can 

10 


PREFACE 


be  translated  into  present-day  books  intended  for 
popular  reading,  in  my  volume  of  "  COLONIAL  FIGHTS 
AND  FIGHTERS." 

The  writing  of  this  novel  has  been  by  no  means 
an  easy  task.  How  to  convey  clearly  the  doings  of 
the  buccaneer  so  there  could  be  no  misapprehension 
on  the  part  of  the  reader,  and  yet  to  write  with  due 
delicacy  and  restraint  a  book  for  the  general  public, 
has  been  a  problem  with  which  I  have  wrestled  long 
and  arduously.  The  whole  book  has  been  com 
pletely  revised  some  six  times.  Each  time  I  have 
deleted  something,  which,  while  it  has  refined,  I 
trust  has  not  impaired  the  strength  of  the  tale.  If 
the  critic  still  find  things  to  censure,  let  him  pass 
over  charitably  in  view  of  what  might  have  been! 

As  to  the  other  characters,  I  have  done  violence 
to  the  name  and  fame  of  no  man,  for  all  of  those 
who  played  any  prominent  part  among  the  buc 
caneers  in  the  story  were  themselves  men  scarcely 
less  criminal  than  Morgan.  Be  it  known  that  I 
have  simply  appropriated  names,  not  careers.  They 
all  had  adventures  of  their  own  and  were  not  asso 
ciated  with  Morgan  in  life.  Teach — I  have  a  weak 
ness  for  that  bad  young  man — is  known  to  history  as 
"  Blackboard  "• — a  much  worse  man  than  the  roar 
ing  singer  of  these  pages.  The  delectable  Horni- 
gold,  the  One-Eyed,  with  the  "  wild  justice  "  of  his 

11 


PREFACE 


revenge,  was  another  real  pirate.  So  was  the  faith 
ful  Black  Dog,  the  maroon.  So  were  Kaveneau  do 
Lussan,  Rock  Braziliano,  L'Ollonois,  Velsers,  Saw- 
kins,  and  the  rest. 

In  addition  to  my  desire  to  write  a  real  story  of 
a  real  pirate  I  was  actuated  by  another  intent.  There 
are  numberless  tales  of  the  brave  days  of  the  Span 
ish  Main,  from  "  Westward  Ho !  "  down.  In  every 
one  of  them,  without  exception,  the  hero  is  a  noble, 
gallant,  high-souled,  high-spirited,  valiant  descen 
dant  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  while  the  villain — 
and  such  villains  they  are ! — is  always  a  proud  and 
haughty  Spaniard,  who  comes  to  grief  dreadfully 
in  the  final  trial  which  determines  the  issue.  My 
sympathies,  from  a  long  course  of  reading  of  such 
romances,  have  gone  out  to  the  under  Don.  I  deter 
mined  to  write  a  story  with  a  Spanish  gentleman 
for  the  hero,  and  a  Spanish  gentlewoman  for  the 
heroine,  and  let  the  position  of  villain  be  filled  by 
one  of  our  own  race.  Such  things  were,  and  here 
they  are.  I  have  dwelt  with  pleasure  on  the  love 
affairs  of  the  gallant  Alvarado  and  the  beautiful 
Mercedes. 

But,  after  all,  the  story  is  preeminently  the  story 
of  Morgan.  I  have  striven  to  make  it  a  character 
sketch  of  that  remarkable  personality.  I  wished  to 
portray  his  ferocity  and  cruelty,  his  brutality  and 

12 


PREFACE 


wantonness,  his  treachery  and  rapacity;  to  exhibit, 
without  lightening,  the  dark  shadows  of  his  charac 
ter,  and  to  depict  his  inevitable  and  utter  breakdown 
finally ;  yet  at  the  same  time  to  bring  out  his  daunt 
less  courage,  his  military  ability,  his  fertility  and 
resourcefulness,  his  mastery  of  his  men,  his  capacity 
as  a  seaman,  which  are  qualities  worthy  of  admira 
tion.  Yet  I  have  not  intended  to  make  him  an 
admirable  figure.  To  do  that  would  be  to  falsify 
history  and  disregard  the  artistic  canons.  So  I  have 
tried  to  show  him  as  he  was ;  great  and  brave,  small 
and  mean,  skilful  and  able,  greedy  and  cruel;  and 
lastly,  in  his  crimes  and  punishment,  a  coward. 

And  if  a  mere  romance  may  have  a  lesson,  here 
in  this  tale  is  one  of  a  just  retribution,  exhibited  in 
the  awful,  if  adequate,  vengeance  finally  wreaked 
upon  Morgan  by  those  whom  he  had  so  fearfully  and 
dreadfully  wronged. 

CYKUS   TOWKSEND   BEADY. 

BROOKLYN,  N.  Y.,  December,  1902. 


NOTE. — The  date  of  the  sack  of  Panama  has  been  advanced  to 
comply  with  the  demands  of  this  romance. 

13 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS 


BOOK  I. 
How  SIR  HENRY  MORGAN  IN  HIS  OLD  AGE  RESOLVED  TO  GO 

A-BOCCANEERING   AGAIN. 


I. — Wherein   Sir   Henry  Morgan   made  good  use  of  the 

ten  minutes  allowed  him          .....     25 

II. — How    Master    Benjamin    Hornigold,    the    One-Eyed, 

agreed  to  go  with  his  old  Captain   .         .         .         .45 

III. — In  which  Sir  Henry  Morgan  finds  himself  at  the  head 

of  a  crew  once  more         ......     65 

IV. — Which   tells   how   the  Mary   Rose,  frigate,  changed 

masters  and  flags 81 


BOOK    II. 

THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  BUCCANEERS  AND  WHAT  BEFEL  THEM  ON 

THE  SEAS. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

V. — How  the  Mary  Rose  overhauled  three  Spanish  treas 
ure  ships  ........     97 

VI. — In    which   is   related    the    strange    expedient   of  the 

Captain  and  how  they  took  the  great  galleon          .   115 
VII. — Wherein    Bartholomew    Sawkins     mutinied    against 

his  Captain  and  what  befell  him  on  that  account    .   128 
VIII. — How  they  strove  to  club-haul  the  galleon  and  failed 

to  save  her  on  the  coast  of  Caracas          .         .         .   145 
15 


CONTENTS 


BOOK  III. 

WHICH  TREATS  OF  THE  TANGLED  LOVE  AFFAIRS  OF  THE 

PEARL  OF  CARACAS. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

IX — Discloses  the  hopeless  passion  between  Donna  Mer 
cedes  de  Lara  and  Captain  Dominique  Alvarado, 
tlie  Comraandante  of  La  Guayra      ....  161 
X. — How  Donna  Mercedes  tempted  her  lover  and  how  he 

strove  valiantly  to  resist  her  appeals       .         .         .   174 
XI. — Wherein  Captain  Alvarado  pledges  his  word  to  the 
Viceroy  of  Venezuela,  the  Count  Alvaro  de  Lara, 
and  to  Don  Felipe  de  Tobar,  his  friend  .         .         .  190 
XII. — Shows  how  Donna  Mercedes  chose  death  rather  than 
give  up  Captain  Alvarado,  and  what  befel  them  on 
the  road  over  the  mountains   .....  200 
XIII. — In    which    Captain   Alvarado  is    forsworn    and    with 
Donna  Mercedes  in  his  arms  breaks  his  plighted 
word  .  218 


BOOK   IV. 
IN  WHICH  is  RELATED  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  TAKING  OF  LA 

GUAYKA    BY    THE    BUCCANEERS    AND    THE    DREADFUL   PERILS 

OF  DONNA  MERCEDES  DE  LARA  AND  CAPTAIN  ALVARADO 
IN  THAT  CITY. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XIV. — Wherein  the  crew  of  the  galleon  intercepts  the  two 

lovers  by  the  way          .         .         .         .          .          .231 

XV. — Tells  how  Mercedes  de  Lara  returned  the  unsought 
caress  of  Sir  Henry  Morgan  and   the  means  by 
which  the  buccaneers  surmounted  the  walls        .  248 
XVI. — In  which  Benjamin  Hornigold  recognizes  a  cross  and 
Captain  Alvarado  finds  and  loses  a  mother  on  the 
strand  .........  265 

XVII. — Which  describes  an  audience  with  Sir  Henry  Morgan 
and  the  treachery  by   which   Captain   Alvarado 
benefited        ........  283 

16 


CONTENTS 


BOOK  V. 

How  THE  SPANIARDS  RE-TOOK  LA  GUAYRA  AND  HOW  CAPTAIN 
ALVAKADO  FOUND  A  NAME  AND  SOMETHING  DEARER  STILL 
IN  THE  CITY. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XVIII. — Discloses  the  way  in  which  Mercedes  de  Lara  fought 
with  woman's  cunning  against  Captain  Henry 

Morgan 301 

XIX. — How  Captain  Alvarado  crossed  the  mountains,  found 
the  Viceroy,  and  placed  his  life  in  his  master's 

hands 326 

XX. — Wherein  Master  Teach,  the  pirate,  dies  better  than 

he  lived          ........  347 

XXI. — The  recital  of  how  Captain  Alvarado  and  Don  Felipe 

de  Tobar  came  to  the  rescue  in  the  nick  of  time  .  354 
XXII. — In  which  Sir  Henry  Morgan  sees  a  cross,  cherishes 

a  hope,  and  makes  a  claim    .....  370 

XXIII. — How  the  good  priest,  Fra  Antonio  de  Las  Casas,  told 
the  truth,  to  the  great  relief  of  Captain  Alvarado 
and  Donna  Mercedes,  and  the  discomfiture  of 
Master  Benjamin  Hornigold  and  Sir  Henry 
Morgan 385 

XXIV. — In  which  Sir  Henry  Morgan  appeals  unavailingly 
alike  to  the  pity  of  woman,  the  forgiveness  of 
priest,  the  friendship  of  comrade,  and  the  hatred 
of  men  .  .  .  402 


BOOK  VI. 
IN  WHICH  THE  CAREER  OF  SIR  HENRY  MORGAN  is  ENDED  ON 

ISLA    DE    LA    TORTUGA,     TO     THE     GREAT     DELECTATION     OF 

MASTER  BENJAMIN  HORNIGOLD,  HIS  SOMETIME  FRIEND. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXV. — And   last.     Wherein  is  seen  how  the  judgment  of 

God  came  upon  the  buccaneers  in  the  end  .         .  421 


17 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

BY  J.  X.  MARCHANU 
Sir  Henry  Morgan — Buccaneer    ....  Frontispiece 

PAG« 

With  the  point  of  his  own  sword  pressed  against  the  back 
of  his  neck,  he  repeated  the  message  which  Morgan  had 
given  him  (see  page  39) 41 

Their  blades  crossed  in  an  instant  .  .  .  There  was  a 
roar  from  Carib's  pistol,  and  the  old  man  fell  (see 
page  87) ...  89 

Morgan  instantly  snatched  a  pistol  from  de  Lussan's  hand 
and  shot  the  man  dead  (see  page  138)  ....  139 

Alvarado   threw  his   right  arm   around  her,  and  with  a 
force   superhuman    dragged    her   from    the   saddle    (see 
page  217) ...         215 

The  moonlight  shone  full  upon  her  face,  and  a.s  he  stooped 
over  he  scanned  it  with  his  one  eye  (see  page  267)  .  .  269 

.  .  .  .  he  reached  the  summit — breathless,  exhausted, 
unhelmed,  weaponless,  coatless,  in  rags;  torn,  bruised, 
bleeding,  but  unharmed  (see  page  332)  ....  333 

.  .  .  .  he  threw  the  contents  at  the  feet  of  the  buc 
caneer,  and  there  rolled  before  him  the  severed  head  of 
.  .  .  his  solitary  friend  (see  page  412)  .  .  .  413 

Hell    had    no    terror    like    to    this,    which    he,     living, 

suffered  (see  page  443) 441 

19 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


BY  WILL  CRAWFORD 

PAGE 

"  To  our  next  meeting,  Mr.  Bradley  "   (seepage^}  .         .          25 

There  was  one  man  .  .  .  who  did  not  join  in  the  sing 
ing  (see  page  49)  ........  45 

Carlingford  had  risen  in  his  boat  .  .  .  and  with 
dauntless  courage  he  shook  his  bared  sword  (see 
page  91) 81 

The  high  poop  and  rail  of  the  Spaniard  was  black  with 

iron-capped  men  (see  page  121)         ...  .         115 

"Wilt  obey  me  in  the  future?''  cried  the  captain  (see 
page  143) 128 

"  Are  you  in  a  state  for  a  return  journey  at  once,  seiior  ?" 
he  asked  of  the  young  officer  (see  page  173)  .  .  .  161 

"  The  fault  is  mine,"  said  Alvarado  (see  page  183)      .         .         174 

Early  as  it  was,  the  Viceroy  and  his  officers     .     .     .     bid 

the  travelers  Godspeed  (see  page  200)       ....        200 

During  the  intervals  of  repose  the  young  man  allowed  his 
party,  the  two  lovers  were  constantly  together  (see 
page  224)  .  • 218 

But  de  Lussan  shot  him  dead,  and  before  the  others  could 
make  a  move,  Morgan  stepped  safely  on  the  sand  (see 
page  239) 241 

"Slay  them,  0  God!  Strike  and  spare  not!"  (see 
page  281) 265 

"  What  would  you  do  for  him  ?"  "  My  life  for  his,"  she 
answered  bravely  (see  page  289)  .....  283 

"  Hast  another  weapon  in  thy  bodice  ?  "  (seepage  319)       .        321 

20 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Quite  the  best  of  the  pirates,  he  !  (see  page  351)          .         .        347 

By  an  impulse    .     .     .     she  slipped  her  arms  around  his 
neck     .     .     .     and  kissed  him  (see  page  366)  .         ,         .         354 

"Treachery  ?    My  lord,  his  was  the  first"  (see page  378)   .         370 
"  'Tis  a  certificate  of  marriage  of "  (see  page  400)          .        385 

"God  help  me!"  cried  Alvurado,  throwing  aside  the 
poniard,  "  I  cannot  "  (see  page  386)  ....  387 

"  I  wanted  to  let  you  know  there  was  water  here.  .  .  . 
There  is  not  enough  for  both  of  us.  Who  will  get  it  ? 
I  ;  look  ! "  (see  page  436) 437 

''Harry  Morgan's  way  to  lead — old  Ben  Ilornigold's  to 
follow — ha,  ha  !  ho,  ho  ! "  He  waded  out  into  the 
water  .  .  .  (see  page  444)  .....  445 


21 


BOOK  I 

HOW  SIR  HENRY  MORGAN  IN  HIS  OLD  AGE  RESOLVED 
TO  GO  A-BUCCANEERING  AGAIN 


SIR  HENRY  MORGAN, 
BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER    I 

WHEREIN  SIR  HENRY  MORGAN  MADE  GOOD  USE  OF  THE  TEN 
MINUTES  ALLOWED   HIM 

IS  Gracious  Majesty,  King  Charles  II.  of 
England,  in  sportive — and  acquisitive — 
mood,  had  made  him  a  knight;  but,  as 
that  merry  monarch  himself  had  said  of 
another    unworthy    sub 
ject  whom    he  had    en 
nobled — his  son,  by  the 
left    hand—  "  God    Al 
mighty  could   not  make 
him  a  gentleman!  " 

Yet,  to  the  casual  in 
spection,  little  or  nothing 
appeared  to  be  lacking 
to  entitle  him  to  all  the 
consideration  attendant 
upon  that  ancient  degree.  His  attire,  for  instance, 
might  be  a  year  or  two  behind  the  fashion  of  Eng- 

25 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


land  and  still  further  away  from  that  of  France, 
then,  as  now,  the  standard  maker  in  dress,  yet  it 
represented  the  extreme  of  the  mode  in  His  Maj 
esty's  fair  island  of  Jamaica,  That  it  was  a  trifle 
too  vivid  in  its  colors,  and  too  striking  in  its  con 
trasts  for  the  best  taste  at  home,  possibly  might 
be  condoned  by  the  richness  of  the  material  used 
and  the  prodigality  of  trimming  which  decorated 
it.  Silk  and  satin  from  the  Orient,  lace  from 
Flanders,  leather  from  Spain,  with  jewels  from 
everywhere,  marked  him  as  a  person  entitled  to 
some  consideration,  at  least.  Even  more  compul 
sory  of  attention,  if  not  of  respect,  were  his 
haughty,  overbearing,  satisfied  manner,  his  look  of 
command,  the  expression  of  authority  in  action  he 
bore. 

Quite  in  keeping  with  his  gorgeous  appearance 
was  the  richly  furnished  room  in  which  he  sat  in 
autocratic  isolation,  plumed  hat  on  head,  quaffing, 
as  became  a  former  brother-of-the-coast  and  some 
time  buccaneer,  amazing  draughts  of  the  fiery  spirits 
of  the  island  of  which  he  happened  to  be,  ad  in 
terim,,  the  Royal  Authority. 

But  it  was  his  face  which  attested  the  acuteness 
of  the  sneering  observation  of  the  unworthy  giver 
of  the  royal  accolade.  No  gentleman  ever  bore  face 
like  that.  Framed  in  long,  thin,  gray  curls  which 


BUCCANEER 


fell  upon  his  shoulders  after  the  fashion  of  the  time, 
it  was  as  cruel,  as  evil,  as  sensuous,  as  ruthless,  as 
powerful  an  old  face  as  had  ever  looked  over  a  bul 
wark  at  a  sinking  ship,  or  viewed  with  indifference 
the  ravaging  of  a  devoted  town.  Courage  there 
was,  capacity  in  large  measure,  but  not  one  trace  of 
human  kindness.  Thin,  lean,  hawk-like,  ruthless, 
cunning,  weather-beaten,  it  was  sadly  out  of  place 
in  its  brave  attire  in  that  vaulted  chamber.  It  was 
the  face  of  a  man  who  ruled  by  terror;  who  com 
manded  by  might.  It  was  the  face  of  an  adven 
turer,  too,  one  never  sure  of  his  position,  but  always 
ready  to  fight  for  it,  and  able  to  fight  well.  There 
was  a  watchful,  alert,  inquiring  look  in  the  fierce 
blue  eyes,  an  intent,  expectant  expression  in  the 
craggy  countenance,  that  told  of  the  uncertainties 
of  his  assumptions;  yet  the  lack  of  assurance  was 
compensated  for  by  the  firm,  resolute  line  of  the 
mouth  under  the  trifling  upturned  mustache,  with 
its  lips  at  the  same  time  thin  and  sensual.  To  be 
fat  and  sensual  is  to  appear'  to  mitigate  the  latter 
evil  with  at  least  a  pretence  at  good  humor;  to  be 
thin  and  sensual  is  to  be  a  devil.  This  man  was 
evil,  not  with  the  grossness  of  a  debauchee  but  with 
the  thinness  of  the  devotee.  And  he  was  an  old 
man,  too.  Sixty  odd  years  of  vicious  life,  glossed 
over  in  the  last  two  decades  by  an  assumption  of 

27 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


respectability,  had  swept  over  the  gray  hairs,  which 
evoked  no  reverence. 

There  was  a  heavy  frown  on  his  face  on  that  sum 
mer  evening  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1685.  The 
childless  wife  whom  he  had  taken  for  his  betterment 
and  her  worsening,  some  ten  years  since — in  succes 
sion  to  Satan  only  knew  how  many  nameless,  un 
recognized  precursors — had  died  a  few  moments 
before,  in  the  chamber  above  his  head.  Fairly 
bought  from  a  needy  father,  she  had  been  a  cloak 
to  lend  him  a  certain  respectability  when  he  settled 
down,  red  with  the  blood  of  thousands  whom  he 
had  slain  and  rich  with  the  treasure  of  cities  that  he 
had  wasted,  to  enjoy  the  evening  of  his  life.  Like 
all  who  are  used  for  such  purposes,  she  knew,  after 
a  little  space,  the  man  over  whom  the  mantle  of  her 
reputation  had  been  flung.  She  had  rejoiced  at  the 
near  approach  of  that  death  for  which  she  had  been 
longing  almost  since  her  wedding  day.  That  she  had 
shrunk  from  him  in  the  very  articles  of  dissolution 
when  he  stood  by  her  bedside,  indicated  the  charac 
ter  of  the  relationship. 

To  witness  death  and  to  cause  it  had  been  the 
habit  of  this  man.  He  marked  it  in  her  case,  as  in 
others,  with  absolute  indifference — he  cared  so  little 
for  her  that  he  did  not  even  feel  relief  at  her  going 
— yet  because  he  was  the  Governor  of  Jamaica 

28 


BUCCANEER 


(really  be  was  only  the  Vice- Governor,  but  between 
the  departure  of  the  Eoyal  Governor  and  the  arrival 
of  another  he  held  supreme  power)  he  had  been 
forced  to  keep  himself  close  on  the  day  his  wife 
died,  by  that  public  opinion  to  which  he  was  indif 
ferent  but  which  he  could  not  entirely  defy.  Con 
sequently  he  had  not  been  on  the  strand  at  Port 
Royal  when  the  Mary  Rose,  frigate,  fresh  from 
England,  had  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  after 
her  weary  voyage  across  the  great  sea.  He  did  not 
even  yet  know  of  her  arrival,  and  therefore  the  in 
coming  Governor  had  not  been  welcomed  by  the 
man  who  sat  temporarily,  as  he  had  in  several  pre 
ceding  interregnums,  in  the  seats  of  the  mighty. 

However,  everybody  else  on  the  island  had  wel 
comed  him  with  joy,  for  of  all  men  who  had  ever 
held  office  in  Jamaica  Sir  Henry  Morgan,  sometime 
the  chief  devil  of  those  nefarious  bands  who  dis 
guised  their  piracy  under  the  specious  title  of  buc 
caneering,  was  the  most  detested.  But  because  of 
the  fortunate  demise  of  Lady  Morgan,  as  it  turned 
out,  Sir  Henry  was  not  present  to  greet  My  Lord 
Carlingford,  who  was  to  supersede  him— and  more. 

The  deep  potations  the  old  buccaneer  had  in 
dulged  in  to  all  outward  intent  passed  harmlessly 
doAvn  his  lean  and  craggy  throat.  He  drank  alone 
— the  more  solitary  the  drinker  the  more  dangerous 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  man — yet  the  room  had  another  occupant,  a  tall, 
brawny,  bro\vn-hued,  grim-faced  savage,  whose 
gaudy  livery  ill  accorded  with  his  stern  and  ruthless 
visage.  He  stood  by  the  Yice- Governor,  watchful, 
attentive,  and  silent,  imperturbably  filling  again 
and  again  the  goblet  from  which  he  drank. 

"  More  rum,"  said  the  master,  at  last  breaking 
the  silence  while  lifting  his  tall  glass  toward  the 
man.  "  Scuttle  me,  Black  Dog,"  he  added,  smil 
ing  sardonically  at  the  silent  maroon  who  poured 
again  with  steady  hand,  "  you  are  the  only  soul  on 
this  island  who  doesn't  fear  me.  That  woman 
above  yonder,  curse  her,  shuddered  away  from  me  as 
I  looked  at  her  dying.  But  your  hand  is  steady. 
You  and  old  Ben  Hornigold  are  the  only  ones  who 
don 't  shrink  back,  hey,  Carib  ?  Is  it  love  or  hate  ?  ' ' 
he  mused,  as  the  man  made  no  answer.  "More," 
he  cried,  again  lifting  the  glass  which  he  had  in 
stantly  drained. 

But  the  maroon,  instead  of  pouring,  bent  his  head 
toward  the  window,  listened  a  moment,  and  then 
turned  and  lifted  a  warning  hand.  The  soft  breeze 
of  the  evening,  laden  with  the  fragrance  of  the 
tropics,  swept  up  from  the  river  and  wafted  to  the 
Vice-Governor's  ears  the  sound  of  hoof  beats  on  the 
hard,  dry  road.  With  senses  keenly  alert,  he,  also, 
listened.  There  were  a  number  of  them,  a  troop 

30 


BUCCANEER 


possibly.  They  were  drawing  nearer;  they  were 
coming  toward  his  house,  the  summer  house  near 
Spanish  Town,  far  up  on  the  mountain  side,  where 
he  sought  relief  from  the  enervating  heats  of  the 
lower  land. 

"  Horsemen!  "  he  cried.  "  Coming  to  the  house! 
Many  of  them!  Ah,  they  dismount.  Go  to  the 
door,  Carib." 

But  before  the  maroon  could  obey  they  heard  steps 
on  the  porch.  Some  one  entered  the  hall.  The 
door  of  the  drawing-room  was  abruptly  thrown 
open,  and  two  men  in  the  uniform  of  the  English 
army,  with  the  distinguishing  marks  of  the  Gov 
ernor's  Guard  at  Jamaica,  unceremoniously  entered 
the  room.  They  were  fully  armed.  One  of  them, 
the  second,  had  drawn  his  sword  and  held  a  cocked 
pistol  in  the  other  hand.  The  first,  whose  weapons 
were  still  in  their  sheaths,  carried  a  long  official 
paper  with  a  portentous  seal  dangling  from  it. 
Both  were  booted  and  spurred  and  dusty  from  rid 
ing,  and  both,  contrary  to  the  custom  and  etiquette 
of  the  island,  kept  their  plumed  hats  on  their  heads. 

"  Sir  Henry  Morgan "  began  the  bearer  of 

the  paper. 

"By  your  leave,  gentlemen,"  interrupted  Mor 
gan,  with  an  imperious  wave  of  his  hand,  t  i  Lieu 
tenant  Hawxherst  and  Ensign  Bradley  of  my  guard, 

31 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


I  believe.     You  will  uncover  at  once  and  apologize 
for  having  entered  so  unceremoniously. ' ' 

As  he  spoke,  the  Governor  rose  to  his  feet  and 
stood  by  the  table,  his  right  hand  unconsciously 
resting  upon  the  heavy  glass  flagon  of  rum.  He 
towered  above  the  other  two  men  as  he  stood  there 
transfixing  them  with  his  resentful  glance,  his  brow 
heavy  with  threat  and  anger.  But  the  two  soldiers 
made  no  movement  toward  complying  with  the 
admonition  of  their  sometime  superior. 

"  D'ye  hear  me?"  he  cried,  stepping  forward, 
reddening  with  rage  at  their  apparent  contumacy. 
"  And  bethink  ye,  sirs,  had  best  address  me,  who 
stand  in  the  place  of  the  King's  Majesty,  as  '  Your 
Excellency,'  or  I'll  have  you  broke,  knaves." 

"  We  need  no  lessons  in  manners  from  you,  Sir 
Henry  Morgan,"  cried  Ilawxherst,  angry  in  turn  to 
be  so  browbeaten,  though  yesterday  he  would  have 
taken  it  mildly  enough.  "  And  know  by  this,  sir," 
lifting  the  paper,  "  that  you  are  no  longer  Governor 
of  this  island,  and  can  claim  respect  from  no  one." 

"  What  do  you  mean?" 

"  The  Mary  Rose  frigate  arrived  this  morning, 
bringing  Lord  Carlingford  as  His  Majesty's  new 
Goyernor,  and  this  order  of  arrest." 

"  Arrest?     For  whom?" 

"  b'or  one  Sir  Henry  Morgan." 
,32 


BUCCANEER 


"  For  what,  pray?" 

"  Well,  sir,  for  murder,  theft,  treason — the  cata 
logue  fills  the  paper.  You  are  to  be  despatched  to 
England  to  await  the  King's  pleasure.  I  am  sent 
by  Lord  Carlingford  to  fetch  you  to  the  jail  at  Port 
Royal." 

66  You  seem  to  find  it  a  pleasant  task." 

"  By  heaven,  I  do,  sir !  "  cried  the  soldier  fiercely. 
"  I  am  a  gentleman  born,  of  the  proudest  family  in 
the  Old  Dominion,  and  have  been  forced  to  bow 
and  scrape  and  endure  your  insults  and  commands, 
you  bloody  villain,  but  now— 

"  'Tis  no  part  of  a  soldier's  duty,  sir,  to  insult  a 
prisoner,"  interrupted  Morgan,  not  without  a  cer 
tain  dignity.  He  was  striving  to  gain  time  to  digest 
this  surprising  piece  of  news  and  thinking  deeply 
what  was  to  be  done  in  this  entirely  unexpected  crisis. 

"  Curse  it  all,  Hawxherst!"  Ensign  Bradley 
burst  out,  pulling  at  the  sleeve  of  his  superior. 
"  You  go  too  far,  man;  this  is  unseemly." 

Hawxherst  passed  his  hand  across  his  brow  and 
by  an  effort  somewhat  regained  his  self-control. 

"  Natheless  'tis  in  this  paper  writ  that  you  are  to 
go  to  England  a  prisoner  on  the  Mary  Rose,  to 
await  the  King's  pleasure,"  he  added,  savagely. 

"  His  Gracious  Majesty  hath  laid  his  sword  upon 
my  shoulder.  I  am  a  knight  of  his  English  court, 

33 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


one  who  has  served  him  well  upon  the  seas.  His 
coffers  have  I  enriched  by — but  let  that  pass.  1  do 
not  believe  that  King  Charles,  God  bless  him ' 

"Stop!  The  Mary  Rose  brings  the  news  that 
King  Charles  II.  is  dead,  and  there  reigns  in  his 
stead  His  Gracious  Majesty  King  James." 

"  God  rest  the  soul  of  the  King!  "  cried  Morgan, 
lifting  his  hat  from  his  head.  "He  was  a  merry 
and  a  gallant  gentleman.  I  know  not  this  James. 
How  if  I  do  not  go  with  you  ?  ' ' 

"  You  have  ten  minutes  in  which  to  decide,  sir," 
answered  Hawxherst. 

"And  then?" 

"  Then  if  I  don't  bring  you  forth,  the  men  of  yon 
der  troop  will  come  in  without  further  order.  Eh, 
Bradley?" 

"  Quite  so,  Sir  Henry,"  answered  the  younger 
man.  £ '  And  every  avenue  of  escape  is  guarded. 
Yield  you,  sir;  believe  me,  there's  naught  else." 

"I  have  ten  minutes  then,"  said  the  old  man 
reflectively,  "  ten  minutes!  Hum!  " 

"You  may  have,"  answered  the  captain  curtly, 
"  if  you  choose  to  take  so  long.  And  I  warn  you," 
he  added,  "that  you'd  best  make  use  of  that  time 
to  bid  farewell  to  Lady  Morgan  or  give  other  order 
for  the  charge  of  your  affairs,  for  'twill  be  a  long 
time,  I  take  it,  before  you  are  back  here  again." 

34 


BUCCANEER 


"Lady  Morgan  is  dead,  gentlemen,  in  the  room 
above." 

At  this  young  Bradley  removed  his  hat,  an  exam 
ple  which  Hawxherst  followed  a  moment  after. 
They  had  always  felt  sorry  for  the  unfortunate  wife 
of  the  buccaneer. 

"  As  for  my  affairs,  they  can  wait,"  continued 
Morgan  slowly.  "  The  game  is  not  played  out  yet, 
and  perchance  I  shall  have  another  opportunity  to 
arrange  them.  Meanwhile,  fetch  glasses,  Carib, 
from  yonder  buffet." 

He  nodded  toward  a  huge  sideboard  which  stood 
against  the  wall  immediately  in  the  rear  of  Ensign 
Bradley,  and  at  the  same  time  shot  a  swift,  mean 
ing  glance  at  the  maroon,  which  was  not  lost  upon 
him  as  he  moved  rapidly  and  noiselessly  in  obedi 
ence. 

"  Gentlemen,  will  you  drink  with  me  to  our  next 
merry  meeting?  "  he  continued,  turning  to  them. 

"  We're  honest  soldiers,  honorable  gentlemen, 
and  we'll  drink  with  no  murderer,  no  traitor!  " 
cried  Hawxherst  promptly. 

"  So?  "  answered  Morgan,  his  eye  sparkling  with 
baleful  light,  although  he  remained  otherwise  en 
tirely  unmoved. 

"  And  let  me  remind  you,"  continued  the  soldier, 
"  that  your  time  is  passing. " 

35 


SIR    HENRT    MORGAN 


"Well,  keep  fast  the  glasses,  Carib,  the  gentle 
men  have  no  fancy  for  drinking.  I  suppose,  sirs, 
that  I  must  fain  yield  me,  but  first  let  me  look  at 
your  order  ere  I  surrender  myself  peaceably  to 
you,"  said  the  deposed  Governor,  with  surprising 
meekness. 

"  Indeed,  sir— 

"'Tis  my  right." 

' 'Well,  perchance  it  may  be.  There  can  be  no 
harm  in  it,  I  think;  eh,  Bradley?  "  queried  the  cap 
tain,  catching  for  the  moment  his  subaltern's  eye. 

Then,  as  the  latter  nodded  his  head,  the  former 
extended  the  paper  to  Morgan.  At  that  instant  the 
old  buccaneer  shot  one  desperate  glance  at  the 
maroon,  who  stood  back  of  the  shoulder  of  the  officer 
with  the  drawn  sword  and  pistol.  As  Hawxherst 
extended  the  paper,  Morgan,  with  the  quickness  of 
an  albatross,  grasped  his  wrist  with  his  left  hand, 
jerked  him  violently  forward,  and  struck  him  a 
vicious  blow  on  the  temple  with  the  heavy  glass 
decanter,  which  shivered  in  his  hand.  Hawxherst 
pitched  down  at  the  Governor's  feet,  covered  with 
blood  and  rum.  So  powerful  had  been  Morgan'  s 
blow  that  the  brains  of  the  man  had  almost  been 
beaten  out.  He  lay  shuddering  and  quivering  on  the 
floor.  Quickly  as  Morgan  struck,  however,  Carib 
had  been  quicker.  As  the  glass  crashed  against  the 

36 


BUCCANEER 


temple  of  the  senior,  the  maroon  had  wrenched  the 
pistol  from  the  junior  soldier's  hand,  and  before  he 
realized  what  had  happened  a  cold  muzzle  was 
pressed  against  his  forehead. 

"Drop  that  sword!"  cried  Morgan  instantly, 
and  as  the  weapon  fell  upon  the  floor,  he  continued, 
smiling:  "  That  was  well  done,  Black  Dog.  Quite 
like  old  times,  eh  ?  " 

"  Shall  I  fire?  "  asked  Carib,  curling  his  lips  over 
his  teeth  in  what  passed  with  him  for  a  smile. 

"Not  yet." 

"Your  Excellency,"  gasped  poor  Bradley,  "I 
didn't  want  to  come.  I  remonstrated  with  him  a 
moment  since.  For  God's  sake " 

"Silence,  sirrah!  And  how  much  time  have  I 
now,  I  wonder?"  He  looked  at  his  watch  as  he 
asked  the  question.  "  Three  minutes!  Three  min 
utes  between  you  and  instant  death,  Ensign  Brad 
ley,  for  should  one  of  your  men  enter  the  room  now 
you  see  what  you  would  have  to  expect,  sir." 

"  Oh,  sir,  have  mercy " 

"Unless  you  do  exactly  what  I  say  you  will  be 
lying  there  with  that  carrion, "  cried  Morgan,  kicking 
the  prostrate  body  savagely  with  his  jewelled  shoes. 

"  What  do  you  want  me  to  do  ?  For  God's  sake 
be  quick,  Your  Excellency.  Time  is  almost  up.  I 
hear  the  men  move." 

37 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


"  You  are  afraid,  sir.  There  still  want  two  min 
utes " 

"Yes,  yes,  but " 

"Go  to  the  window  yonder,"  cried  the  old  man 
contemptuously — whatever  he  was  he  was  not  afraid 
—"and  speak  to  them.  Do  you,  Carib,  stand  be 
hind,  by  the  window,  well  concealed.  If  he  hesi 
tate,  if  he  falter,  kill  him  instantly." 

"Pistol  or  knife?" 

"The  knife,  it  makes  less  noise,"  cried  the  buc 
caneer,  chuckling  with  devilish  glee.  "  Only  one 
minute  and  a  half  now,  eh,  Mr.  Bradley?  " 

"They're  coming,  they're  coming!"  whispered 
Bradley,  gasping  for  breath.  "  Oh,  sir " 

"We  still  have  a  minute,"  answered  Morgan 
coolly.  ' i  Now,  stop  them. ' ' 

"But  how?" 

"  Tell  them  that  you  have  captured  me;  that  my 
wife  is  dead;  that  you  and  Lieutenant  Hawxherst 
will  spend  the  night  here  and  fetch  me  down  to 
Port  Royal  in  the  morning;  that  I  have  yielded 
myself  a  prisoner.  Bid  them  stay  where  they  are 
and  drink  to  your  health  in  bottles  of  rum,  which 
shall  be  sent  out  to  them,  and  then  to  go  back  to 
Port  Royal  and  tell  the  new  Governor.  And  see 
that  your  voice  does  not  tremble,  sir !  " 

There  was  a  sudden  movement  outside. 

38 


BUCCANEER 


"If  they  get  in  here,"  added  Morgan  quickly, 
"you  are  a  dead  man." 

Bradley,  with  the  negro  clutching  his  arm,  ran 
to  the  window.  With  the  point  of  his  own  sword 
pressed  against  the  back  of  his  neck  he  repeated  the 
message  which  Morgan  had  given  him,  which  was 
received  by  the  little  squadron  with  shouts  of  ap 
probation.  He  turned  from  the  window,  pale  and 
trembling.  Moistening  his  lips  he  whispered : 

"  I  stopped  them  just  in  time." 

"  Well  for  you  that  you  did,"  said  Morgan 
grimly.  "Come  hither!  Face  that  wall!  E~ow 
stand  there!  Move  but  a  hair's-breadth,  turn  your 
head  the  thousandth  part  of  a  degree,  and  I  run  you 
through,"  he  added,  baring  his  sword.  "  Kum  for 
the  men  without,  Carib,"  he  added,  "and  then  tell 
me  when  they  are  gone." 

While  the  two  were  left  alone  in  the  room,  Mor 
gan  amused  himself  by  pricking  the  unfortunate 
officer  with  the  point  of  the  weapon,  at  the  same 
time  enforcing  immobility  and  silence  by  the  most 
ferocious  threats  of  a  speedy  and  cruel  death.  The 
men  outside  drank  noisily  and  presently  departed, 
and  the  half-breed  came  back. 

"  Bind  this  fool,"  Morgan  commanded  briefly. 
"  Then  bid  the  slaves  keep  close  in  their  cabins  on 
pain  of  my  displeasure — they  know  what  it  is. 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


Then  fetch  the  fastest  horse  in  the  stable  to  the 
front  door.  Get  my  riding-boots  and  cloak,  and 
before  you  go  hand  me  that  little  desk  yonder.  Be 
quick  about  it,  too,  for  time  presses,  although  I 
have  more  of  it  than  these  gentlemen  would  have 
allowed  me." 

As  the  maroon,  after  carefully  lashing  the  officer 
with  a  seaman's  expertness,  rushed  out  to  busy  him 
self  in  carrying  out  these  commands,  Morgan  opened 
the  desk  which  he  had  handed  to  him  and  took  from 
it  several  rouleaux  of  gold  and  a  little  bag  filled 
with  the  rarest  of  precious  stones;  then  he  made  a 
careful  examination  of  the  body  on  the  floor. 

"  Not  quite  dead  yet,"  he  murmured,  "  but  there 
is  no  use  wasting  shot  or  thrust  upon  him,  he  won't 
survive  that  blow.  As  for  you,  sir,"  looking  at  the 
paralyzed  ensign,  lying  bound  upon  the  floor,  "  you 
thought  you  could  outwit  the  old  buccaneer,  eh? 
You  shall  see.  I  dealt  with  men  when  vou  were  a 
babe  in  arms,  and  a  babe  in  arms  you  are  still. 
Ho!  Ho!" 

He  laughed  long  and  loudly,  though  there  was 
neither  mirth  nor  merriment  in  his  sinister  tones. 
The  blood  of  the  poor  listener  froze  in  his  veins  at 
the  sound  of  it. 

The  brief  preparations  which  Morgan  had  indi 
cated  as  necessary  for  the  journey  were  soon  made. 

40 


With  the  point  of  his  own   sword  pressed  against  rhe  back  of  his 
neck,  he  repeated  the  message  which  Morgan  had  given  him. 


BUCCANEER 


He  was  always  promptly  obeyed  by  his  own  people; 
the  slaves  fled  his  presence  when  they  could  as  if  he 
had  been  a  pestilence.  At  a  sign  from  his  taciturn 
body-servant  at  the  open  door  that  the  horse  was 
ready,  he  rose  to  his  feet. 

"  Shall  I  kill  this  one  now  ?  "  asked  the  maroon. 

Morgan  looked  at  the  young  man  reflectively. 
The  tongue  of  the  ensign  clave  to  the  roof  of  his 
mouth;  the  sweat  stood  out  on  his  forehead;  he 
could  not  utter  a  word  from  fright.  He  was  bound 
and  trussed  so  tightly  that  he  could  not  make  a 
move,  either.  His  eyes,  however,  spoke  volumes. 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Henry  deliberately,  " it  would 
be  a  pity  to  kill  him — ' '  he  paused ;  "  in  a  hurry, ' ' 
he  added. 

"  Dead  men  tell  no  tales." 

"Eh,  well,  we  can  take  care  of  that.  Just  lay 
him  near  his  friend,  lock  the  doors  when  I  am  gone 
and  set  the  place  on  fire.  The  people  are  all  out  of 
the  house.  See  they  remain  away.  'Twill  make 
a  hot,  glorious  blaze.  You  know  the  landing  oppo 
site  Port  Eoyal  ?" 

The  half-breed  nodded. 

"Meet  me  there  as  quick  as  you  can.  Lose  no 
time." 

"Aye,  aye,  sah,"  answered  the  Carib.  "And 
Lady  Morgan,  sah  ?  " 

43 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


' '  Let  her  burn  with  the  other  two.  She  is  so 
saintly  she  may  like  the  fire,  for  I  am  afraid  there 
will  be  none  where  she  has  gone.  Good-by,  Master 
Bradley.  You  allowed  me  ten  minutes.  I  take  it 
that  this  house  will  burn  slowly  at  first,  so  perhaps 
you  may  count  upon — let  us  say — half  an  hour. 
I'm  generous,  you  see.  Harry  Morgan's  way! 
"Tis  a  pity  you  can't  live  to  take  my  message  to 
Lord  Carlingford.  The  next  time  he  sends  any  one 
for  me  let  him  send  men,  not  fools  and — cowards." 

"  You  villain!  You  cursed,  murdering  villain!  " 
gasped  Bradley  at  last. 

"  To  our  next  meeting,  Mr.  Bradley,  and  may  it 
be  in  a  cooler  place  than  you  will  be  in  half  an 
hour!'' 


44 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER    II 

HOW  MASTER  BENJAMIN  HORNIGOLD,  THE   ONE-EYED,  AGREED 
TO  GO  WITH  HIS  OLD  CAPTAIN 

LOSE  under  the  towering  walls  of  the 
old  Spanish  fort,  now  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  dominated  by  the  English  flag, 
as  if  seeking  protection  from  its  frown 
ing  battlements  with 
their  tiers  of  old-fash 
ioned  guns,  stood  the 
Blue  Anchor  tavern.  It 
had  been  a  famous  resort 
for  the  bold  spirits  of  the 
evil  sort  who  had  made 
Port  Eoyal  the  base  of 
their  operations  in  many 
a  desperate  sea  venture  in 
piracy  in  the  two  decades 
that  had  just  passed;  but  times  had  changed,  even 
if  men  had  not  changed  in  them. 

The  buccaneer  had  been  banished  from  the  Carib 
bean.     Whereupon,  with  a  circumspect  prudence, 

45 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


he  had  extended  his  operations  into  the  South  Seas, 
where  he  was  farther  from  civilization,  consequently 
harder  to  get  at,  and,  naturally,  more  difficult  to 
control.  Since  the  sack  of  Panama,  twenty-five 
years  before,  his  fortunes  had  been  rapidly  declin 
ing.  One  of  the  principal  agents  in  promoting  his 
downfall  had  been  the  most  famous  rover  of  them 
all.  After  robbing  his  companions  of  most  of  their 
legitimate  proportion  of  the  spoils  of  Panama,  Sir 
Henry  had  bought  his  knighthood  at  the  hands  of 
the  venal  Charles,  paying  for  it  in  treasure,  into  the 
origin  of  which,  with  his  usual  careless  insouciance, 
his  easy-going  majesty  had  not  inquired  any  too 
carefully.  And  the  old  pirate  had  settled  down,  if 
not  to  live  cleanly  at  least  to  keep  within  the  strict 
letter  of  the  law.  There  was  thereafter  nothing  he 
abhorred  so  thoroughly  as  buccaneering  and  the 
buccaneer — ostensibly,  that  is. 

Like  many  a  reformed  rake  this  gentle  child  of 
hell,  when  the  opportunity  came  to  him  with  the 
position  of  Yice-Governor,  endeavored  to  show  the 
sincerity  of  his  reformation  by  his  zealous  persecu 
tion.  He  hanged  without  mercy  such  of  his  old 
companions  in  crime  as  fell  into  his  clutches.  They 
had  already  vowed  vengeance  upon  him,  these  some 
time  brethen  of  the  coast,  for  his  betrayal  of  their 
confidence  at  Panama;  they  had  further  resented 

46 


BUCCANEER 


his  honor  of  knighthood,  his  cloak  of  respectability, 
his  assumption  of  gentility,  and  now  that  he  hanged 
and  punished  right  and  left  without  mercy,  their 
anger  and  animosity  were  raised  to  the  point  of 
fury,  and  many  of  them  swore  deeply  with  bitter 
oaths  that  if  they  ever  caught  him  defenceless  they 
would  make  him  pay  dearly  in  torture  and  torment 
for  these  various  offences.  He  knew  them  well 
enough  to  realize  their  feelings  toward  him,  and 
blind  fate  affording  him  the  opportunity  of  the 
upper  hand  he  made  them  rue  more  bitterly  than 
ever  their  wild  threats  against  him. 

He  had,  moreover,  so  conducted  himself  in  his 
official  position  that  everybody,  good,  bad,  and  in 
different,  on  the  island  hated  him.  "Why  he  had 
not  been  assassinated  long  since  was  a  mystery. 
But  he  was  a  dangerous  man  to  attack.  Absolutely 
fearless,  prompt,  decisive,  resourceful,  and  with  the 
powers  and  privileges  of  the  office  he  held  besides, 
he  had  so  far  escaped  all  the  dangers  and  difficulties 
of  his  situation.  Charles  had  constantly  befriended 
him  and  had  refused  to  give  ear  either  to  the  reiter 
ated  pleas  of  the  islanders  for  his  removal,  or  to  the 
emphatic  representations  of  the  Spanish  court, 
which,  in  bitter  recollection  of  what  he  had  done — 
and  no  more  cruel  or  more  successful  pirate  had  ever 
swept  the  Caribbean  and  ravaged  the  Spanish  Main 

47 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


—were  persistently  urged  upon  his  notice.  But 
with  the  accession  of  James  the  situation  was  imme 
diately  altered.  The  new  monarch  had  at  once  ac 
ceded  to  the  demand  of  the  Spanish  Ambassador, 
presented  anew  at  this  opportune  time,  and  a  new 
Governor  of  Jamaica  was  despatched  over  the  sea 
with  orders  to  arrest  Morgan  and  send  him  to  Eng 
land.  Hawxherst,  who,  in  common  with  all  the 
officers  of  the  insular  army,  hated  the  bloodstained 
villain  whom  fortune  had  placed  over  them,  had 
solicited  Lord  Carlingford  to  allow  him  to  execute 
the  order,  with  what  success  we  have  seen. 

The  news  of  the  long-wished-for  downfall  of  the 
tyrant  had  been  spread  abroad  and  formed  the  one 
topic  of  conversation  in  Port  Royal  and  the  vicinity 
that  day.  Now  the  work  of  the  day  was  over  and, 
as  usual,  the  Blue  Anchor  tavern  was  crowded  with 
men  from  the  frigate  and  other  shipping  in  the  har 
bor,  mingling  with  others  from  the  purlieus  of  the 
town.  Fumes  of  rum  and  spirits  pervaded  the 
tobacco-smoked  barroom  which  served  as  the  main 
parlor  of  the  inn.  It  was  yet  early  in  the  evening, 
but  the  crowd,  inflamed  with  liquor,  was  already  in 
uproarious  mood.  Over  in  the  corner  a  young  Eng 
lishman  was  singing  in  a  rich,  deep  voice  a  new  song 
by  a  famous  poet  of  London  town : 

"  Let  us  sing  and  be  merry,  dance,  joke  and  rejoice, 
With  claret  and  sherry,  theorbo  and  voice ! 

48 


BUCCANEER 


The  changeable  world  to  our  joy  is  unjust, 

All  treasure's  uncertain, 

Then  down  with  your  dust ; 

In  frolics  dispose  your  pounds,  shillings  and  pence, 
For  we  shall  be  nothing  a  hundred  years  hence. 

We'll  sport  and  be  free,  with  Frank,  Betty  and  Dolly, 
Have  lobsters  and  oysters  to  cure  melancholy  ; 
Fish  dinners  will  make  a  man  spring  like  a  flea, 

Dame  Venus,  love's  lady, 

"Was  born  of  the  sea; 

With  her  and  with  Bacchus  we'll  tickle  the  sense. 
For  we  shall  be  past  it  a  hundred  years  hence." 

It  was  a  popular  song,  evidently,  for  the  whole 
assembly  joined  in  the  chorus — 

"In  frolics  dispose  your  pounds,  shillings  and  pence, 
For  we  shall  be  nothing  a  hundred  years  hence." 

They  roared  it  out  in  the  deep  bass  voices  of  the 
sea,  marking  the  time  by  hammering  in  unison  upon 
the  oaken  tables  with  their  pewter  mugs  and  flagons. 
The  sentiment  seemed  to  suit  the  company,  if  the 
zest  with  which  they  sang  be  any  criterion.  Care 
was  taken  to  insure  a  sufficient  pause,  too,  after  the 
chorus  between  each  of  the  verses,  to  permit  the 
drinking,  after  all  the  essential  part  of  the  evening's 
entertainment,  to  be  performed  without  hindrance. 

There  was  one  man,  however,  from  the  post  of 
honor  which  he  occupied  at  the  head  of  the  table 
evidently  held  in  high  consideration  among  the 
habitues  of  the  inn,  who  did  not  join  in  the  singing. 

49 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


He  was  a  little  man,  who  made  up  for  his  shortness 
of  stature  by  breadth  of  shoulder  and  length  of  arm. 
There  was  an  ugly  black  patch  over  his  left  eye ;  no 
one  had  ever  seen  him  without  that  patch  since  the 
day  of  the  assault  on  the  fort  at  Chagres;  an  Indian 
arrow  had  pierced  his  eye  on  that  eventful  day. 
Men  told  how  he  had  gone  to  the  surgeon  request 
ing  him  to  pull  it  out,  and  when  the  young  doctor, 
who  had  been  but  a  short  time  with  the  buccaneers, 
shrank  from  jerking  the  barb  out  in  view  of  the 
awful  pain  which  would  attend  his  action,  had  hesi 
tated,  reluctant,  the  wounded  man  had  deliberately 
torn  out  the  arrow,  and  with  oaths  and  curses  for 
the  other's  cowardice  had  bound  up  the  wound  him 
self  with  strips  torn  from  his  shirt  and  resumed  the 
fighting.  His  courage  there,  and  before  and  after, 
although  he  was  an  illiterate  person  and  could 
neither  read  nor  write,  had  caused  him  to  be  ap 
pointed  boatswain  of  the  ship  that  had  carried  Mor 
gan's  flag,  and  he  had  followed  his  leader  for  many 
years  with  a  blind  devotion  that  risked  all  and  stuck 
at  nothing  to  be  of  service  to  him. 

It  had  been  many  years  since  Master  Benjamin 
Ilornigold,  coming  down  from  bleak  New  England 
because  he  found  his  natural  bent  of  mind  out  of 
harmony  with  the  habits  and  customs  of  his  Puritan 
ancestors,  had  drifted  into  buccaneering  under  the 

50 


BUCCANEER 


flag  of  his  chief.  He  was  an  old  man  now,  but 
those  who  felt  the  force  of  his  mighty  arms  were 
convinced  that  age  had  not  withered  him  to  any 
appreciable  degree. 

Aside  from  Morgan,  Hornigold  had  loved  but  one 
human  creature,  his  younger  brother,  a  man  of 
somewhat  different  stamp,  who  had  been  graduated 
from  Harvard  College  but,  impelled  by  some  wild 
strain  in  his  blood  and  by  the  example  of  his  brother, 
had  joined  the  buccaneers. 

There  were  many  men  of  gentle  blood  who  were 
well  acquainted  with  the  polite  learning  of  the  day 
among  these  sea  rovers  from  time  to  time,  and  it  is 
related  that  on  that  same  Panama  excursion  when 
ufrom  the  silent  peak  in  Darien"  they  beheld  for 
the  first  time  after  their  tremendous  march  the  glit 
tering  expanse  of  the  South  Seas,  with  white  Panama 
in  its  green  trees  before  them,  the  old  cry  of  the 
famous  Ten  Thousand,  "Thalatta!  Thalatta!  The 
sea!  The  sea!  "  had  burst  from  many  lips. 

All  his  learning  and  refinement  of  manner  had  not 
prevented  young  Ebenezer  Hornigold  from  being  as 
bad  at  heart  as  his  brother,  which  is  saying  a  great 
deal,  and  because  he  was  younger,  more  reckless, 
less  prudent,  than  he  of  riper  years,  he  had  incau 
tiously  put  himself  in  the  power  of  Morgan  and  had 
been  hanged  with  short  shrift.  Benjamin,  standing 

5i 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


upon  the  outskirts  of  the  crowd  jesting  and  roaring 
around  the  foot  of  the  gibbet,  with  a  grief  and  rage 
in  his  heart  at  his  impotency,  presently  found  him 
self  hating  his  old  captain  with  a  fierceness  propor 
tioned  to  his  devotion  in  the  past.  For  he  had 
appealed  for  mercy  personally  to  Morgan  by  the 
memory  of  his  former  services  and  had  been  sternly 
repulsed  and  coldly  dismissed  with  a  warning  that 
he  should  look  to  his  own  future  conduct  lest,  fol 
lowing  in  the  course  of  his  brother,  he  should  find 
himself  with  his  neck  in  the  noose. 

Morgan,  colossal  in  his  conceit  and  careless  in  his 
courage,  thought  not  to  inquire,  or,  if  he  gave  the 
subject  any  consideration  at  all,  dismissed  it  from 
his  mind  as  of  little  moment,  as  to  what  was  the 
subsequent  state  of  Hornigold's  feelings.  Horni- 
gold  could  have  killed  Morgan  on  numberless  occa 
sions,  but  a  consuming  desire  for  a  more  adequate 
revenge  than  mere  death  had  taken  hold  of  him,  and 
he  deferred  action  until  he  could  contrive  some 
means  by  which  to  strike  him  in  a  way  that  he  con 
ceived  would  glut  his  obsession  of  inexpiable  hatred. 

Hornigold  had  reformed,  outwardly  that  is,  and 
was  now  engaged  in  the  useful  and  innocent  busi 
ness  of  piloting  ships  into  the  harbor,  also  steering 
their  crews,  after  the  anchors  were  down,  into  the 
Blue  Anchor  tavern,  in  which  place  his  voice  and 

52 


BUCCANEER 


will  were  supreme.  He  had  heard,  for  Lord  Car- 
lingford  had  made  no  secret  of  his  orders,  that  his 
old  master  was  to  be  arrested  and  sent  back  to  Eng 
land.  The  news  which  would  have  brought  joy  to 
a  lesser  villain,  in  that  it  meant  punishment,  filled 
him  with  dismay,  for  such  was  the  peculiarity  of  his 
hatred  that  he  wanted  the  punishment  to  come 
directly  from  him — through  his  agency,  that  is. 
He  desired  it  to  be  of  such  character  that  it  should 
be  neither  speedy  nor  easy,  and  he  lusted  most  of 
all  that  Morgan  should  know  in  his  last  hours— 
which  Hornigold  prayed  Satan  might  be  long  ones 
— to  whom  he  was  indebted  for  it  all. 

And,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  there  was  still  a 
certain  loyalty  of  a  distorted,  perverted  kind,  in  the 
man's  breast.  No  matter  what  Morgan  had  done, 
no  one  else  should  punish  him  but  himself.  He 
would  even  have  fought  for  his  sometime  chief, 
were  it  necessary,  against  the  King  or  his  law,  if 
need  be.  He  was  therefore  very  much  disturbed 
over  what  he  heard.  Had  it  been  possible  he  would 
have  warned  Morgan  immediately  of  his  purposed 
arrest,  but  he  had  been  detained  on  the  frigate  by 
necessary  duties  from  which  he  could  find  no  means 
of  escape  until  too  late.  He  had,  however,  a  high 
sense  of  Sir  Henry's  courage  and  address.  He 
hoped  and  believed  that  he  would  not  be  taken  by 

53 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


such  men  as  Hawxherst  and  Bradley;  but  if  he 
were,  Hornigold  made  up  his  mind  to  rescue  him. 

There  was  a  little  islet  in  the  Caribbean  just  be 
low  Hispaniola,  in  whose  wooded  interior  still 
lurked  some  of  the  old-time  buccaneers,  proscribed 
men,  who,  from  time  to  time,  did  pirating  in  a  smalj 
way  on  their  own  account;  just  enough  to  keep 
their  hands  in.  If  the  worst  came,  Hornigold,  who 
with  his  little  pinnace  had  kept  in  touch  with  them 
secretly,  could  assemble  them  for  the  rescue  of  their 
old  captain.  Then  the  former  Governor,  in  his 
power  and  in  their  possession,  could  be  disposed  of 
at  their  leisure  and  pleasure.  All  these  things  had 
busied  the  man  during  the  evening,  and  he  sat  even 
now  in  the  midst  of  the  revelry  about  him,  plunged 
in  profound  thought. 

Unobserved  himself,  he  had  taken  account  of 
every  man  who  was  present.  He  knew  all  the 
habitues  of  the  port,  and  enjoyed  a  wide  acquaint 
ance  among  the  seamen  whose  vessels  frequented 
the  harbor.  He  decided  there  were  then  in  that 
room  perhaps  twenty  men  upon  whom  he  could  de 
pend,  proper  inducement  being  offered,  for  almost 
any  sort  of  service.  Among  these  were  five  or  six 
superior  spirits  whom  he  knew  to  be  tried  and  true. 
There  was  young  Teach,  the  singer  of  the  evening, 
a  drunken,  dissolute  vagabond,  who  had  been  dis- 

54 


BUCCANEER 


charged  from  his  last  ship  for  insubordination  and 
a  quarrelsome  attack  upon  one  of  his  officers,  for 
which  he  had  narrowly  escaped  hanging  as  a  muti 
neer.  The  man  was  as  bold  as  a  lion,  though ;  he 
could  be  trusted.  There,  too,  was  Rock  Braziliano, 
a  Portuguese  half-breed,  and  hobnobbing  with  him 
was  Raveneau  de  Lussan,  a  Frenchman — prime  sea 
man  and  bold  fellows  both.  Further  down  the 
table,  the  huge  Dutchman,  Yelsers,  was  nodding 
stupidly  over  his  rum. 

These  men  and  a  few  others  were  veterans  like 
Hornigold  himself.  They  were  the  best  of  the  lot, 
but  for  the  most  part  the  assemblage  was  made  up 
of  the  sweepings  of  the  town,  men  who  had  the 
willingness  to  do  anything  no  matter  how  nefarious 
it  might  be,  their  only  deterrent  being  lack  of  cour 
age.  Hornigold 's  single  eye  swept  over  them  with 
a  fierce  gleam  of  contempt,  yet  these  were  they 
with  whom  he  must  work  in  case  of  necessity. 

One  or  two  others  in  whom  he  reposed  confi 
dence,  men  who  composed  the  crew  of  his  own 
pinnace,  he  had  sent  off  early  in  the  evening  to 
Spanish  Town  to  gather  what  news  they  could. 
One  of  them  came  in  and  reported  that  the  squad 
ron  of  horse  which  had  gone  up  with  the  officers  to 
bring  back  Morgan  had  come  back  without  him  and 
without  the  officers.  The  spy's  insignificance  pre- 
55 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


vented  him  from  learning  why  this  was,  but  hope 
instantly  sprang  up  in  Hornigold's  breast  upon  re 
ceipt  of  this  news.  Knowing  Morgan  as  he  did,  he 
was  convinced  that  he  had  found  some  means  to  dis 
pose  of  the  two  officers  and  send  away  the  cavalry. 

He  was  not  unprepared,  therefore,  when  he  saw 
the  tall  form  of  the  maroon  appearing  in  the  door 
way  through  the  smoke.  No  one  else  noticed  the 
silent  Carib's  entry,  and  he  stood  motionless  until 
Hornigold's  eye  fastened  upon  him.  Then  by  an 
imperceptible  move  of  his  head  he  indicated  a  desire 
to  speak  with  him  without  the  room.  The  one-eyed 
nodded  slightly  in  token  that  he  understood,  and 
the  maroon  vanished  as  silently  as  he  had  come. 
Waiting  a  few  moments,  Hornigold  rose  from  his 
seat  and  began  threading  his  way  through  the  bois 
terous  crowd  toward  the  door.  Thrusting  aside  de 
taining  hands  and  answering  rude  queries  writh  an 
old  sailor's  ready  banter,  bidding  them  on  no  ac 
count  to  cease  the  festivities  because  of  his  depar 
ture,  and  in  fact  ordering  a  new  draught  of  rum  for 
all  hands,  he  succeeded  in  breaking  away  under 
cover  of  the  cheers  which  greeted  this  announce 
ment. 

It  was  pitch  dark  outside  and  he  stopped  a  mo 
ment,  hesitating  as  to  what  he  should  do.  He  had 
no  doubt  but  that  the  maroon  had  a  message  for 

56 


BUCCANEER 


him  from  his  master.  But  a  second  had  elapsed 
when  he  felt  a  light  touch  on  his  shoulder.  His 
hand  went  instantly  to  the  seaman's  hanger  at  his 
side  and  he  faced  about  promptly.  A  ready  man 
was  Master  Hornigold. 

"  It's  I,  bo's'n,"  whispered  a  familiar  voice. 

"  You,  Black  Dog  ?     Where's  your  master  ?  " 

"  Yonder." 

"Let  me  see  him." 

A  tall,  slender  figure  muffled  in  a  heavy  riding- 
coat  sat  in  the  stern  sheets  of  a  small  boat  in  the 
deepest  shadow  of  one  of  the  silent  and  deserted  piers. 

"  Captain  Morgan  ?  "  whispered  Hornigold  softly, 
as  followed  by  the  maroon  he  descended  the  landing 
stairs  leading  toward  the  boat. 

"  'Tis  you,  Master  Hornigold,"  answered  the 
man,  with  an  accent  of  relief  in  his  voice,  thrusting 
the  pistol  back  into  his  belt  as  he  spoke.  He,  too, 
was  a  ready  man  with  his  weapons  and  one  not  to 
be  caught  napping  in  any  emergency. 

"Me  it  is,  sir,"  answered  the  boatswain,  "and 
ready  to  serve  my  old  captain." 

"  You  heard  the  news?  " 

"  I  heard  it  on  the  frigate  this  afternoon." 

"  Why  did  you  not  send  me  warning?  " 

"  I  had  no  chance.  I'd  'a'  done  it,  sir.  if  I  could 
have  fetched  away." 


57 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  Well,  all's  one.  I've  laid  those  two  landlubbers 
by  the  heels.  Eh,  Carib?" 

"  Where  are  they,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  might  make  a  guess,  for  I  left  them  bound  and 
the  house  blazing." 

"  'Tis  like  old  times !  " 

"  Ay !    I've  not  forgot  the  old  tricks." 

"  'No,  sir.     And  what's  to  do  now  ?  " 

"  Why,  the  old  game  once  more." 

"  What  ?    You  don't  mean " 

"  I  do.  What  else  is  there  left  for  me  ?  Scuttle 
me,  if  I  don't  take  it  out  of  the  Dons !  It's  their 
doing.  They've  had  a  rest  for  nigh  twenty  years. 
We'll  let  it  slip  out  quietly  among  the  islands  that 
Harry  Morgan's  afloat  once  more  and  there's  pickings, 
to  be  had  on  the  Spanish  Main — wine  and  women 
and  pieces  of  eight.  Art  with  me  ?  " 

"  Ay,  of  course.    But  we  lack  a  ship." 

"  There's  one  yonder,  man,"  cried  Morgan,  point 
ing  up  the  harbor,  where  the  lights  of  the  Mary  Rose 
twinkled  in  the  blackness. 

"  To  be  sure  the  ship  is  there,  but— 

"  But  what?" 

'*  We've  no  force.     The  old  men  are  gone." 

"  I  am  here,"  answered  Morgan,  "  and  you  and 
Black  Dog.  And  there  are  a  few  others  left.  Teach 
is  new,  but  will  serve;  I  heard  his  bull  voice  roaring 

58 


BUCCANEER 


out  from  the  tavern.  And  de  Lussan  and  Velsers, 
and  the  rest.  I've  kept  sight  of  ye.  Curse  it  all,  I 
let  you  live  when  I  might  have  hanged  you." 

"  You  did,  captain,  you  did.  You  didn't  hang 
everybody — but  you  didn't  spare,  either." 

It  would  have  been  better  for  the  captain  if  it  had 
been  lighter  and  he  could  have  seen  the  sudden  and 
sharp  set  of  Master  Ilornigold's  jaws,  which,  coupled 
with  the  fierceness  which  named  into  his  one  eye  as 
he  hissed  out  that  last  sentence,  might  have  warned 
him  that  it  would  be  safer  to  thrust  his  head  into  the 
lion's  mouth  than  altogether  to  trust  himself  to  his 
whilom  follower.  But  this  escaped  him  in  the  dark 
ness. 

"  Listen,"  he  said  quickly.  "  This  is  my  plan.  In 
the  morning  when  Hawxherst  and  Bradley  do  not 
appear,  the  new  Governor  will  send  more  men.  They 
will  find  the  house  burned  down.  No  one  saw  us 
come  hither.  There  will  be  in  the  ruins  the  remains 
of  three  bodies." 

"  Three?" 

"  Yes.    My  Lady  Morgan's." 

"Did  you  kill  her?" 

"  I  didn't  have  to.  They'll  think  that  one  of  them 
is  mine.  No  hue  or  cry  will  be  raised  and  no  search 
made  for  me.  Do  you  arrange  that  the  crew  of  the 
Mary  Rose  be  given  liberty  for  the  evening  yonder  at 

59 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  Blue  Anchor.     They've  not  been  ashore  yet,  I 
take  it?" 

"  No,  but  they  will  go  to-morrow." 

"  That's  well.  Meanwhile  gather  together  the  bold 
fellows  who  have  stomach  for  a  cruise  and  are  willing 
to  put  their  heads  through  the  halter  provided  there 
are  pieces  of  eight  on  the  other  side,  and  then  we'll 
take  the  frigate  to-morrow  night  and  away  for  the 
Spanish  Main.  That  will  give  us  a  start.  We'll  pick 
up  what  we  can  along  the  coast  first,  then  scuttle  the 
ship,  cross  the  Isthmus,  seize  another  and  have  the 
whole  South  Seas  before  us — Peru,  Manila,  wherever 
we  will." 

"  The  King  has  a  long  arm." 

"  Yes,  and  other  kings  have  had  long  arms  too,  I 
take  it,  but  they  have  not  caught  Harry  Morgan,  nor 
ever  shall.  Come,  man,  wilt  go  with  me  ?  " 

"  Never  fear,"  answered  Hornigold  promptly. 
"  I've  been  itching  for  a  chance  to  cut  somebody's 
throat." 

He  did  not  say  it  was  Morgan's  throat,  but  the 
truth  and  sincerity  in  his  voice  carried  conviction  to 
the  listening  captain. 

"  Thou  bloody  butcher !  "  he  laughed  grimly. 
"  There  will  be  plenty  of  it  anon." 

"  Where  will  you  lay  hid,"  asked  the  boatswain, 
"  until  to-morrow  night  ?  " 

60 


BUCCANEER 


"  I  have  thought  of  that/7  said  Morgan  promptly. 
"  I  think  the  best  place  will  be  the  cabin  of  your 
pinnace.  I'll  just  get  aboard,  Black  Dog  here  and  I, 
and  put  to  sea.  To-morrow  night  at  this  hour  we'll 
come  back  here  again  and  you  will  find  us  here  at  the 
wharf." 

"  A  good  plan,  Master  Morgan,"  cried  Hornigold, 
forgetting  the  title  as  the  scheme  unfolded  itself  to 
him.  "  What's  o'clock,  I  wonder  ?  " 

As  he  spoke  the  sound  of  a  bell  tapped  softly  came 
floating  over  the  quiet  water  from  the  Mary  Rose. 

"  Four  bells,"  answered  Morgan  listening;  "  at  ten 
of  the  clock,  then,  I  shall  be  here." 

"  Leave  the  rest  to  me,  sir,"  answered  Hornigold. 

"  I  shall.     That  will  be  your  boat  yonder  ?  " 

"  Ay.     Just  beyond  the  point." 

"  Is  anybody  aboard  of  her  ?  " 

"  No  one." 

"  Is  there  rum  and  water  enough  for  one  day  ?  " 

"  Plenty.     In  the  locker  in  the  cuddy." 

"  Good !  Come,  Carib.  Until  to-morrow  night, 
then !  " 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  said  Hornigold,  leaning  over  the 
pier  and  watching  the  boat  fade  into  a  black  blur  on 
the  water  as  it  drew  away  toward  the  pinnace. 

"  He's  mine,  by  heaven,  he's  mine !  "  he  whispered 


61 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


under  his  breath  as  he  turned  and  walked  slowly  up 
to  the  house. 

Yet  Master  Hornigold  meant  to  keep  faith  with  his 
old  captain.  He  was  sick  and  tired  of  assumed 
respectability,  of  honest  piloting  of  ships  to  the 
harbor,  of  drinking  with  worthy  merchantmen  or  the 
King's  sailors.  The  itch  for  the  old  buccaneering 
game  was  hard  upon  him.  To  hear  the  fire  crackle 
and  roar  through  a  doomed  ship,  to  lord  it  over  ship 
loads  of  terrified  men  and  screaming  women,  to  be 
sated  with  carnage  and  drunk  with  liquor,  to  dress  in 
satins  and  velvets  and  laces,  to  let  the  broad  pieces  of 
eight  run  through  his  grimy  fingers,  to  throw  off 
restraint  and  be  a  free  sailor,  a  gentleman  rover,  to 
return  to  the  habits  of  his  earlier  days  and  revel  in 
crime  and  sin — it  was  for  all  this  that  his  soul  lusted 
again. 

He  would  betray  Morgan,  yet  a  flash  of  his  old 
admiration  for  the  man  came  into  his  mind  as  he 
licked  his  lips  like  a  wolf  and  thought  of  the  days  of 
rapine.  There  never  was  such  a  leader.  He  had 
indeed  been  the  terror  of  the  seas.  Under  no  one 
else  would  there  be  such  prospects  for  successful 
piracy.  Yes,  he  would  do  all  for  him  faithfully,  up 
to  the  point  of  revenge.  Morgan's  plan  was  simple 
and  practicable.  De  Lussan,  Teach,  Yelsers  and  the 
rest  would  fall  in  with  it  gladly.  There  would  be 

62 


BUCCANEER 


enough  rakehelly,  degraded  specimens  of  humanity, 
hungry  and  thirsty,  lustful  and  covetous,  in  Port 
Royal — which  was  the  wickedest  and  most  flourish 
ing  city  on  the  American  hemisphere  at  the  time — to 
accompany  them  and  insure  success,  provided  only 
there  would  be  reward  in  women  and  liquor  and 
treasure.  He  would  do  it.  They  would  all  go 
a-cruising  once  more,  and  then — they  would  see. 

He  stayed  a  long  time  on  the  wharf,  looking  out 
over  the  water,  arranging  the  details  of  the  scheme 
outlined  by  Morgan  so  brilliantly,  and  it  was  late 
when  he  returned  to  the  parlor  of  the  Blue  Anchor 
Inn.  Half  the  company  were  drunk  on  the  floor 
under  the  tables.  The  rest  were  singing,  or  shouting, 
or  cursing,  in  accordance  with  their  several  moods. 
Above  the  confusion  Hornigold  could  hear  Teach's 
giant  voice  still  roaring  out  his  reckless  refrain ;  bitter 
commentary  on  their  indifference  it  was,  too — 

"  Though  life  now  is  pleasant  and  sweet  to  the  sense, 
We'll  be  damnably  moldy  a  hundred  years  hence." 

"  Ay,"  thought  the  old  buccaneer,  pausing  in  the 
entrance,  for  the  appositeness  of  the  verses  impressed 
even  his  unreflective  soul,  "  it  will  be  all  the  same  in 
a  hundred  years,  but  we'll  have  one  more  good  cruise 
before  we  are  piped  down  for  the  long  watch  in." 

He  chuckled  softly  and  hideously  to  himself  at  the 

fatalistic  idea. 

63 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


By  his  orders,  enforced  by  the  vigorous  use  of 
seamen's  colts,  the  inn  servants  at  once  cleared  the 
room  of  the  vainly  protesting  revellers.  Those  whose 
appearance  indicated  a  degree  of  respectability  which 
promised  payment  for  their  accommodation,  were 
put  to  bed;  the  common  sort  were  bundled  uncere 
moniously  out  on  the  strand  before  the  door  and  left 
to  sober  up  as  best  they  might  in  the  soft  tropic  night. 
Teach,  Raveneau,  and  the  Brazilian  were  detained 
for  conference  with  the  boatswain.  To  these 
worthies,  therefore,  Hornigold  unfolded  -  Morgan's 
plan,  which  they  embraced  with  alacrity,  promising 
each  to  do  his  share.  Velsers  was  too  stupidly  drunk 
to  be  told  anything,  but  they  knew  they  could  count 
upon  him  without  fail. 


64 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER    III 

IN  WHICH  SIR  HENRY  MORGAN  FINDS  HIMSELF  AT  THE  HEAD 
OF  A  CREW   ONCE   MORE 

HE  next  morning,  after  waiting  a  reason 
able  time  for  a  message  from  the  two 
soldiers  at  Spanish  Town,  Lord  Carling- 
f  ord,  the  new  Governor,  who  had  taken 
up  his  residence  temporarily  at  Port  Royal,  sum 
moned  his  attendants,  and  himself  repaired  to  the 
seat  of  Government  to  ascertain  why  no  further  re 
port  had  been  received  from  his  officers.  Great  was 
his  astonishment  when  he  found  that  the  residence 
of  the  Vice-Governor  had  been  destroyed  by  fire 
during  the  night.  The  frightened  slaves  could  tell 
nothing.  Morgan  and  Carib  had  taken  care  that  no 
one  had  marked  their  departure.  Consequently 
when  the  search  of  the  ruins  revealed  the  remains  of 
three  bodies,  so  badly  charred  as  to  be  unrecogniz 
able,  it  was  naturally  inferred  at  first  that  they  were 
those  of  the  buccaneer  and  the  two  unfortunate 
officers.  It  was  known  among  the  people  of  the 
place,  however,  that  Lady  Morgan  had  been  seriously 

65 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


ill,  so  ill  that  she  could  not  have  been  removed,  and 
there  were  some  who  suspected  that  one  of  the  bodies 
was  hers  and  that  the  arch-fiend  himself  had  by  some 
means  disposed  of  the  officers  and  escaped.  There 
fore  a  hue  and  cry  was  raised  for  him  and  a  strict 
search  instituted  by  order  of  the  Governor,  who, 
after  setting  affairs  in  motion,  returned  to  Port 
Royal. 

Troops  were  accordingly  ordered  out,  and  even  de 
tails  of  surly  seamen,  growling  at  being  deprived  of 
their  accustomed  shore  liberty,  were  detailed  from 
the  frigate,  which  happened  to  be  the  only  war  vessel 
in  commission  in  the  harbor.  Hornigold,  Raveneau, 
and  one  or  two  of  the  others  known  to  be  former  com 
panions  of  the  buccaneer,  were  closely  interrogated, 
but  they  stoutly  declared  they  did  not  know  his 
whereabouts  and  had  seen  nothing  of  him.  Later  in 
the  afternoon  it  was  observed  that  Ilornigold's  pin 
nace  was  not  in  the  harbor.  Indeed,  with  cunning 
adroitness  that  master  mariner  himself  called  atten 
tion  to  the  fact,  cursing  the  while  his  old  commander 
for  his  alleged  theft  of  the  boat,  and  declaring  his 
willingness  to  join  in  the  search  for  him.  It  was 
known  to  the  authorities  that  the  execution  of  the 
boatswain's  brother  by  Morgan  had  shattered  the  old 
intimacy  which  subsisted  between  them;  consequently 


6G 


BUCCANEER 


his  protestations  were  given  credence  and  suspicion 
of  collusion  was  diverted  from  him. 

Lord  Carlingford  finally  determined  to  send  the 
Mary  Rose  to  sea  in  an  endeavor  to  overhaul  the  pin 
nace,  in  the  hope  that  the  former  Vice-Governor 
might  be  found  on  her,  although  the  chances  of  suc 
cess  were  but  faint.  The  frigate,  however,  was  not 
provisioned  or  watered  for  a  cruise,  after  her  long 
voyage  from  England.  There  had  been  considerable 
scurvy  and  other  sickness  on  the  ship  and  she  was  in 
no  condition  to  weigh  anchor  immediately ;  she  would 
have  to  be  re-supplied  and  the  sick  men  in  her  crew 
replaced  by  drafts  from  the  shore.  Besides,  in  ac 
cordance  with  the  invariable  custom,  the  great  ma 
jority  of  the  men  had  been  given  shore  leave  for  that 
afternoon  and  evening,  and  those  few  who  were  not 
on  duty  were  carousing  at  the  Blue  Anchor  Inn  and 
similar  taverns  and  would  be  utterly  unable  to  work 
the  ship,  should  they  be  called  upon  to  do  so,  without 
being  given  a  chance  to  sober  up.  This  would  take 
time,  and  Lord  Carlingford  upon  the  representations 
of  his  sea  officers  decided  to  wait  until  the  morrow 
before  commencing  work.  One  secret  of  Morgan's 
success  was  the  promptness  with  which  he  struck. 
Nobler  and  better  men  could  have  learned  a  lesson 
from  this  old  buccaneer,  notably  the  Governor. 

As  he  could  do  so,  not  only  personally  but  through 
67 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


his  able  lieutenants,  Hornigold  busied  himself  during 
the  day  and  the  preceding  night  in  enlisting  as  vicious 
a  gang  of  depraved  ruffians  as  could  be  gathered 
together  in  what  was  perhaps  the  wickedest  city  in 
the  world.  It  had  been  decided  after  conference 
between  the  leaders  that  there  was  no  place  within 
the  confines  of  Port  Koyal  itself  where  so  many  men 
could  meet  without  exciting  suspicion.  He  had  ac 
cordingly  appointed  a  rendezvous  for  the  night  across 
the  narrow  entrance  to  the  harbor,  opposite  the  fort, 
under  the  trees  which  overshadowed  the  strand,  some 
distance  back  from  high-water  mark.  Singly  or  in 
groups  of  two  or  three,  the  men  had  gone  across  in 
boats  after  sunset,  successfully  eluding  observation, 
for  the  night  was  moonless  and  very  dark. 

There  was  no  room,  indeed,  for  suspicion  on  the 
part  of  the  authorities,  save  in  the  bare  fact  of  the 
possible  escape  of  Morgan;  but  it  had  been  twenty 
years  since  that  worthy  had  gone  buccaneering,  and, 
except  in  the  minds  of  his  former  companions  and 
participants,  much  of  the  character  of  his  exploits 
had  passed  out  of  mind.  No  special  watch  was  kept, 
therefore,  in  fort  or  town  or  on  the  ship.  Morgan 
was  gone  certainly,  but  nothing  was  feared  from  a 
single  proscribed  man. 

There  was  rum  in  plenty  under  the  trees  on  the 
point,  but  care  was  taken  by  Rock  Braziliano,  Kaven- 


BUCCANEER 


eau,  and  the  others,  even  including  Velsers,  that  no 
one  should  drink  enough  to  lose  entire  control  of  his 
faculties  or  to  become  obstreperous.  Just  enough 
was  given  to  make  the  timid  bold,  and  the  hardy  reck 
less.  They  knew  the  value  of,  and  on  occasion  could 
practise,  abstinence,  those  old  buccaneers,  and  they 
were  determined  to  keep  their  men  well  in  hand.  No 
fires  were  lighted,  no  smoking  permitted.  Strict 
silence  was  enjoined  and  enforced.  It  was  perhaps 
ten  o'clock  before  all  were  assembled. 

When  morning  had  cleared  their  brains  of  the  rum 
they  had  taken,  there  had  been  ferocious  opposition 
on  the  part  of  the  older  men.  'Not  that  they  objected 
to  buccaneering.  They  were  eager  for  the  chance 
once  more,  but  the  memory  of  Morgan's  betrayals  of 
his  old  comrades  rankled  deep.  There  were  many 
beside  Hornigold  who  had  promised  themselves  the 
luxury  of  vengeance  upon  their  old  commander. 
There  were  none,  however,  wrho  had  so  dwelt  upon  it 
as  the  boatswain,  nor  were  there  any  whose  animosity 
and  determination  compared  to  his  fierce  hatred.  He 
was  therefore  able,  at  last,  to  persuade  them  into  a 
surly  willingness  to  accept  Morgan  as  their  captain  in 
this  new  enterprise.  Indeed,  without  him  they  could 
do  nothing,  for  there  was  no  one  who  possessed  the 
ability  or  experience  to  lead  them  save  he.  The  best 
men  of  the  old  stamp  were  now  in  the  South  Seas  and 

no 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


far  away;  they  had  been  driven  from  the  Caribbean. 
It  was  not  difficult  for  Hornigold  to  show  them  that 
it  must  be  Morgan  or  no  one. 

Their  feelings  of  animosity  were,  perforce,  sunk 
beneath  the  surface,  although  they  smouldered  still 
within  their  breasts.  They  would  go  with  him,  they 
said.  But  let  him  look  to  himself,  they  swore  threat 
eningly.  If  he  betrayed  them  again,  there  were  men 
among  them  who  would  kill  him  as  remorselessly  as 
they  would  stamp  on  a  centipede.  If  he  behaved 
himself  and  the  expedition  on  which  he  was  to  lead 
them  proved  successful,  they  might  forgive  him — all 
but  old  Hornigold.  Truth  to  tell,  there  was  no  one 
among  them  who  felt  himself  so  wronged  or  so  badly 
treated  as  the  one-eyed  envenomed  sailor. 

The  bulk  of  the  party,  which  numbered  perhaps 
one  hundred  men,  were  simply  plain,  ordinary 
thieves,  cut-throats,  broken-down  seamen,  land  sharks 
and  rascals.  Not  much  was  to  be  expected  of  them. 
They  were  not  of  the  stuff  of  which  the  old-time  buc 
caneers  had  been  made,  but  they  were  the  best  to  be 
obtained  at  that  time  in  Port  Royal.  Even  they 
would  not  have  been  so  easily  assembled  had  they 
realized  quite  what  was  expected  of  them.  They 
knew,  of  course,  that  they  were  committing  them 
selves  to  some  nefarious  undertaking,  but  to  each 
recruit  had  been  vouchsafed  only  enough  informa- 

70 


BUCCANEER 


tion  to  get  him  to  come  to  the  rendezvous — no  more. 
They  were  a  careless,  drunken,  dissolute  lot. 

By  Hornigold's  orders  they  were  told  off  in  five 
parties  of  about  twenty  each,  commanded  respectively 
by  himself,  Velsers,  Raveneau,  the  Brazilian,  and  the 
last  by  Teach,  who,  though  the  youngest  of  the  lead 
ers,  had  a  character  for  daring  wickedness  that  would 
stop  at  nothing.  With  much  difficulty  the  boatswain 
had  succeeded  in  obtaining  five  boats,  each  capable  of 
carrying  one  band.  Every  one  brought  his  own  arms, 
and  in  general  these  men  did  not  lack  a  sufficiency  of 
weapons.  Those  who  were  deficient,  however,  were 
supplied  from  a  scanty  stock  which  the  leaders  had 
managed  to  procure. 

All  was  in  readiness,  when  one  of  the  men  who  had 
been  stationed  on  the  extreme  edge  of  the  beach 
toward  the  channel  reported  the  approach  of  a  small 
boat  looking  like  the  pinnace. 

The  wind,  fortunately  for  the  enterprise,  happened 
to  be  blowing  fresh  out  of  the  harbor  and  it  was 
necessary  for  the  pinnace  to  beat  up  toward  the  en 
trance.  She  showed  no  lights,  but,  as  she  tacked  in 
close  to  the  shore,  between  the  watcher  and  the  lights 
of  the  town,  he  observed  her.  The  boat  was  handled 
with  consummate  skill;  she  dropped  anchor  and 
hauled  down  her  sails  noiselessly  just  abreast  the  pier 
which  had  been  appointed  the  rendezvous  by  the  two 

71 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


men  on  the  night  before.  As  soon  as  Hornigold 
learned  of  the  approach  he  took  a  small  boat,  leaving 
Velsers  in  command  of  the  band  on  shore,  and  re 
paired  with  the  other  leaders  to  the  wharf  on  the 
other  side.  As  the  boat  approached  the  wharf  it  was 
hailed  in  a  sharp  whisper. 

"  Who  comes  ?  "  cried  the  voice  on  shore. 

"  Hornigold !  "  answered  the  boatswain  in  a  low 
tone,  as  the  boat  swept  alongside. 

"  So,  'tis  you,  is  it  ?  "  cried  Morgan,  attended  by 
the  maroon  as  usual,  again  putting  his  pistol  back 
into  his  belt.  "  Seeing  so  many  of  you  in  the  skiff,  I 
feared  a  trap  until  you  gave  the  word." 

"  I've  brought  along  Raveneau,  the  Brazilian,  and 
young  Teach,"  said  the  boatswain. 

'  Welcome,  my  hearties,  all !  "  said  the  Vice- 
Governor  softly.  "  We're  off  to  the  Spanish  Main 
with  a  good  ship,  plenty  of  liquor  beneath  the 
hatches,  brave  hearts  to  run  her.  There  will  be 
plenty  of  pickings  meet  for  any  man.  Are  you  with 
me?" 

"Ay,  ay,  sir!" 

:i  We  are,"  answered  one  and  another. 

The  place  where  they  stood  was  lonely  and  deserted 
at  that  time  of  night,  but  Hornigold  suggested  that 
they  immediately  repair  to  the  other  side,  there  to 
perfect  their  further  plans.  Indeed,  they  had  no 

72 


BUCCANEER 


plans  as  yet.  There  was  not  head  enough  among 
them  to  concoct  the  details  of  the  scheme,  although  no 
better  instruments  for  an  expedition  than  the  chief 
and  those  assembled  under  him  could  be  gathered 
together.  They  had  waited  for  Morgan. 

"  You  speak  well,"  answered  the  captain.  "  Are 
all  preparations  made  ?  " 

"  All  we  could  make  without  you,  captain,"  replied 
Hornigold  as  the  party  re-entered  the  boat. 

"  How  many  men  have  you  gathered?  " 

"  About  five  score." 

"Boats?" 

"  Five." 

"Will  they  carry  all?" 

"  With  a  little  crowding." 

"  Who  leads  each  boat  ?  " 

"  I,  one,  sir,  with  your  permission;  Eaveneau  here, 
another;  the  Brazilian,  the  third;  young  Teach,  a 
fourth,  and  Velsers — 

"  Where  is  he  ?  " 

"  With  the  rest  of  the  men— the  fifth." 

"  Good !     Are  they  all  armed  ?  " 

"  Every  man  has  a  sword  and  a  pistol  at  least." 

"What  of  the  men?" 

"  A  poor  lot,"  answered  Teach,  recklessly.  "  A 
dastardly  crew." 

"Will  they  fight,  think  ye?" 
73 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


"  Curse  me,  they'll  have  to  fight ;  we'll  make 
them !  "  said  Hornigold. 

"  Do  they  know  what's  up  ?  " 

"  "Not  exactly/'  answered  Raveneau,  the  French 
man,  a  man  of  good  birth  and  gentle  manners,  but  as 
cruel  and  ruthless  a  villain  as  any  that  ever  cut  a 
throat  or  scuttled  a  ship.  "  Have  no  fear,  captain," 
he  continued  smoothly.  "  Once  we  start  them,  they 
will  have  to  fight." 

"  Did  you  ever  know  me  to  show  f ear,  de  Lus- 
san  ?  "  cried  the  captain  bending  forward  and  staring 
at  the  Frenchman,  his  eyes  glittering  in  the  darkness 
like  those  of  a  wildcat. 

"No,  captain." 

"  No,  nor  did  any  other  man,"  answered  Morgan, 
and  from  where  he  sat  Hornigold  marked  the  little 
dialogue  and  swore  in  his  heart  that  this  man  who 
boasted  so  should  beg  for  his  life  at  his  hand,  with  all 
the  beseeching  pity  of  the  veriest  craven,  before  he 
finished  with  him.  But  for  the  present  he  said  noth 
ing.  After  a  short  pause,  Morgan  resumed: 

"  Have  they  suspected  my  escape  ?  " 

"  They  have,"  answered  the  boatswain.  "  They 
found  the  remains  of  the  three  bodies  in  the  burned 
house  this  morning.  At  first  they  thought  one  of 
them  was  yours,  but  they  decided  after  a  while  that 
one  was  a  woman,  and  they  guessed  that  you  had 

74 


BUCCANEER 


made  away  with  the  officers  and  escaped.  I  told  them 
you  had  stolen  iny  pinnace  and  got  away." 

"You  did,  eh?" 

"  Yes." 

"  And  he  swore  and  cursed  you  roundly,  captain," 
interposed  the  Brazilian  chuckling  maliciously. 
"  Aye,  sir,  he  swore  if  he  got  hands  on  you  he  would 
give  you  up." 

Morgan  turned  this  time  to  Hornigold.  He  was 
by  no  means  sure  of  his  position.  He  knew  the  en 
mity  of  these  men,  and  he  did  not  know  how  far  their 
cupidity  or  their  desire  to  take  up  the  old  life  once 
more  under  such  fortunate  auspices  as  would  be 
afforded  under  his  command  would  restrain  them. 

"  Master  Ben  Hornigold,  said  ye  that  ? "  he 
queried.  "  Would  ye  betray  me  ?  " 

His  hand  stole  to  his  waist  and  his  fingers  closed 
around  his  pistol  grip. 

"  No  fear,  captain,"  answered  that  worthy  com 
posedly,  sustaining  the  captain's  searching  gaze.  A 
braver  man  never  stepped  a  deck  than  he.  "  I  did  it 
to  divert  their  attention.  You  see,  they  fancied  at 
first  that  we  old  sea-dogs  might  have  something  to  do 
with  your  escape,  but  I  undeceived  them.  They 
reckoned  that  you  had  been  hard  on  us  and  that  we 
might  be  hard  on  ye r' 

"No  more  of  this,  gentlemen,  the  past  is  gone. 
7.5 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


We  begin  again/'  cried  Morgan  fiercely.  "  And 
mark  me,  the  man  who  betrays  Harry  Morgan  will 
not  live  many  minutes  to  boast  of  it !  I'd  kill  him  if 
he  sat  on  the  steps  of  a  throne.  Easy  there !  "  he 
called  out  to  the  oarsmen,  assuming  the  command  as 
by  right,  while  the  boat's  keel  grated  on  the  shingle. 
"  All  out  now  and  lead  the  way.  Nay,  gentlemen, 
you  shall  all  precede  me.  Carib,  here,  will  bring  up 
the  rear.  And  it  may  be  well  for  you  to  keep  you* 
weapons  in  your  belts." 

Much  impressed,  the  little  party  disembarked  and 
walked  rapidly  toward  the  place  of  assemblage, 
under  the  trees.  Morgan  and  the  maroon  came  last, 
each  of  them  with  a  bared  sword  and  cocked  pistol. 

u  Lads,"  said  Hornigold,  as  they  approached  the 
men,  "  here's  your  captain,  Sir  Henry  Morgan." 

'  The  Governor !  "  cried  one  and  another,  in  sur 
prise  and  alarm.  The  man  had  been  a  terror  to  evil 
doers  too  poor  to  bribe. 

'  Nay,  men,  Governor  no  more,"  Morgan  answered 
promptly.  "  A  free  sailor  who  takes  the  sea  against 
the  Spanish  Dons.  We'll  go  buccaneering  as  in  the 
old  days.  These  men  here,"  pointing  to  the  group  of 
officers,  "  can  tell  you  what  it  means.  You  have 
heard  tales  of  the  jolly  roving  life  of  the  brethren-of- 
the-coast.  We'll  do  a  little  picking  in  the  Caribbean, 
then  over  the  Isthmus,  and  then  down  into  the  South 

7G 


BUCCANEER 


Seas.  There's  wine  and  women  and  treasure  to  be 
had  for  the  taking.  The  Spaniards  are  cowards.  Let 
them  hear  that  Harry  Morgan  is  once  more  on  the 
sea  under  the  Jolly  Roger  and  they  will  tremble 
from  Darien  down  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  It 
will  be  fair  play  and  the  old  shares.  Who's  with 
me  ?  " 

"I!  "  "  I!  "  "I!  "  broke  from  the  bolder  spirits 
of  the  crowd,  and  the  rest,  catching  the  contagion, 
finally  joined  in  the  acclaim. 

"  Easy,"  said  the  captain,  "  lest  we  be  heard.  Hor- 
nigold,  is  there  liquor  ?  " 

"  Plenty,  sir." 

"  Let  each  man  have  a  noble  draught,  then  to  the 
boats." 

"  But,  captain,"  spoke  up  Sawkins,  one  of  the  bold 
est  recruits,  who  was  not  in  the  secret,  "  be  ye  goin' 
buccaneerin'  in  boats  ?  Whar's  the  ship  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  ship  in  the  harbor,"  cried  Morgan, 
"  well  found  and  provided." 

"  Ay,  but  what  ship?" 

"  Confusion,  sir !  "  shouted  Morgan.  "  Begin  ye 
by  questioning  me?  Into  the  boat  with  your  com 
rades!  Velsers,  de  Lussan,  Rock  see  that  the  men 
get  into  the  boats  as  soon  as  they  have  their  dram. 
And  hark  ye,  gentlemen,  a  word  with  ye !  "  calling 
them  apart  while  the  rest  were  being  served.  "  Put 

77 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


the  boldest  men  in  the  stern  sheets  with  yourselves, 
the  rest  at  the  oars,  and  do  you  have  your  weapons 
ready.  The  Mary  Rose  lies  just  within  the  bar.  You, 
Velsers  and  Rock,  gain  the  f oVsl  from  larboard  and 
starboard.  You,  Teach  and  Raveneau,  board  at  the 
different  gangways.  Hornigold,  I'll  go  in  your  boat 
and  we'll  attend  to  the  cabin.  Let  all  be  done  with 
out  noise.  No  pistols,  use  the  blade.  Take  no  pris 
oners  and  waste  no  time.  If  we  gain  the  deck  with 
out  difficulty,  and  I  think  we  can,  clap  to  the  hatch 
covers  and  we'll  cut  cable  and  get  under  way  at 
once." 

The  men  had  been  embarking  in  the  boats  rather 
reluctantly  as  he  spoke,  but  presently  all  was  ready. 
Finally  Hornigold  and  then  Morgan  with  the  maroon 
stepped  into  the  last  boat,  first  making  sure  there 
were  no  stragglers  left  behind,  and  Morgan  gave  the 
command : 

"Shove  off!" 

Sawkins,  the  bold  spirit  who  had  spoken  before, 
presumed,  in  spite  of  the  commander's  threat,  to 
open  his  mouth  again  as  the  boats  slowly  left  the 
beach,  rowing  through  the  passage  and  up  the  harbor 
against  the  ebb  just  beginning;  he  pulled  the  stroke 
oar  in  Hornigold's  boat. 

"  Before  I  go  further,"  he  cried,  "  I  want  to  know 
what  ship  we're  goin'  aboard  of." 

78 


BUCCANEER 


"  Ay !  "  came  in  a  subdued  roar  from  the  men  be 
hind  him,  who  only  needed  a  leader  to  back  out  of 
the  enterprise,  which,  as  it  threatened  to  involve 
fighting,  began  to  seem  not  quite  so  much  to  their 
taste.  "  What  ship  ?  " 

"  The  frigate,"  answered  Hornigold  shortly. 

"What!  The  Mary  Rose!  The  King's  ship!" 
cried  the  men,  ceasing  to  row.  In  an  instant  Mor 
gan's  pistol  was  out.  His  motion  was  followed  by 
Hornigold  and  the  maroon. 

"  Row,  you  dogs !  "  he  cried  fiercely. 

The  stroke  oarsman  hesitated,  although  the  others 
tried  to  pick  up  the  stroke. 

"  I  give  you  one  minute,  then  I  blow  out  your 
brains,  pull  out  the  plug  in  this  boat,  and  we'll  all  go 
to  hell  together,"  said  Morgan  truculently  to  the  re 
calcitrant  men. 

"  Row,  for  your  life's  sake  !  "  cried  the  man  behind 
Sawkins,  hitting  him  in  the  back  with  the  haft  of  the 
oar. 

"  It's  the  King's  ship !  " 

"  What  do  we  care  for  the  King?  "  said  Morgan. 
"  He  is  the  law,  and  none  of  us  love  the  law.  Two- 
thirds  of  her  crew  are  drunk,  t'other  third  are  ashore 
or  sick.  They  are  unprepared,  asleep.  There'll  be 
naught  but  the  anchor  watch.  One  sharp  blow,  and 


79 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


we  have  the  frigate — then  away.     What  fear  ye, 
lads?7' 

By  such  words  as  these,  but  more  by  the  threaten 
ing  appearance  of  the  weapons  pointed  from  the  stern 
sheets,  Morgan  inspirited  his  men;  and  by  similar 
language  and  threats,  the  men  in  the  other  boats  did 
the  same.  After  rowing  a  short  distance  the  flotilla 
separated.  Those  approaching  from  the  farther  side 
of  the  ship  necessarily  made  a  wide  detour,  for  which 
the  others  waited,  so  they  would  all  arrive  simultane 
ously.  After  a  suitable  time  the  order  was  passed 
softly  to  give  way  again.  In  perfect  silence,  broken 
only  by  the  "  cheep  "  of  the  oars  in  the  locks,  the  five 
boats  swept  down  on  the  doomed  frigate. 


80 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER    IV 

WHICH    TELLS    HOW    THE   "MARY  ROSE"   FRIGATE    CHANGED 
MASTERS  AND   FLAGS 


HE  Mary  Rose  was  a  ship  with  a  history. 
The  battle  roster  of  the  English  navy 
had  borne  many  of  her  name.  In  each 
instance  she  had  been  found  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fighting. 
The  present  vessel  was 
an  old  ship,  having  been 
built  some  thirty  years 
before,  but  she  was  still 
stanch  and  of  a  model 
which  combined  strength 
with  speed.  The  most 
conspicuous  expedition 
she  had  participated  in 
had  been  a  desperate 


defence  of  a  convoy  in  the  Mediterranean  against 
seven  Sallee  rovers,  in  which,  after  a  hard  engage 
ment  lasting  four  hours,  the  Mary  Rose  triumphed 
decisively  without  losing  a  single  sail  of  her  convoy. 
6  81 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


A  rude  song  was  made  about  the  action,  and  the  two 
lines  of  the  ballad,  summing  up  the  results,  were 
painted  around  the  wheel : 

"  Two  we  burnt,  and  two  we  sank,  and  two  did  run  away, 

And  one  we  carried  to  Leghorn  Roads,  to  show  we'd  won  the  day." 

The  commander  of  the  ship  on  this  memorable  and 
heroic  occasion  had  been  knighted  on  his  return  to 
England,  and  on  the  accession  of  James  had  been 
sent  to  Jamaica  with  Lord  Carlingford  as  Vice- 
Governor,  to  take  command  of  the  naval  station  and 
supersede  Morgan.  Admiral  Sir  John  Kempthorne 
was  an  elderly  man  at  this  time,  but  his  spirit  was  the 
same  that  had  enabled  him  to  withstand  so  success 
fully  the  overwhelming  onslaught  of  the  Algerine 
pirate  ships. 

The  English  navy,  however,  was  then  in  a  state  of 
painful  decay.  The  famous  Test  Act,  which  ex 
cluded  James  from  the  naval  service  while  he  was 
Duke  of  York,  because  he  was  a  Eoman  Catholic, 
had  deprived  the  navy  of  its  most  influential  and  able 
friend.  The  greedy  rapacity  with  which  Charles  II. 
had  devoted  the  money  assigned  by  the  Commons  for 
the  support  of  the  fleet  to  his  own  lustful  and  extrav 
agant  purposes,  the  favoritism  and  venality  which  he 
allowed  in  the  administration  of  the  Admiralty,  and 
the  neglect  with  which  he  viewed  the  representations 
of  Pepys  and  others  as  to  the  condition  of  his  fleets, 

82 


BUCCANEER 


had  reduced  the  navy  of  England,  which  had  won  such 
immortal  glory  under  Blake,  to  the  very  lowest  depth 
it  ever  reached.  The  ships  were  in  bad  repair  and 
commanded  by  landsmen  who  shirked  going  to  sea; 
they  were  ill-found,  the  wages  of  the  seamen  not 
paid — in  short,  they  presented  pictures  of  demoraliza 
tion  as  painful  as  they  were  unusual. 

Kempthorne,  having  been  a  tried  and  a  successful 
naval  commander  in  his  younger  days,  had  striven, 
with  some  success  so  far  as  his  own  ship  was  con 
cerned,  to  stem  the  prevailing  tide  of  ruin,  and  the 
Mary  Rose  was  perhaps  one  of  the  best  frigates  in 
the  service,  which,  however,  was  not  saying  a  great 
deal.  He  could  not,  of  course,  better  the  character 
of  the  crew  which  had  been  provided  for  him,  nor 
could  he  entirely  re-supply  the  ship,  or  make  good  her 
faulty  and  deficient  equipment,  but  he  did  the  best 
he  could.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  he  could 
have  given  a  good  account  of  himself  if  engaged  with 
even  the  perfectly  appointed  ships  of  the  Dutch  Ee- 
public,  or  of  the  Grand  Monarch  himself.  Indeed, 
in  spite  of  the  horrible  degeneracy,  the  prestige  of 
victory  was  still,  as  it  has  ever  been,  with  England. 
King  James,  a  successful,  even  brilliant  naval  com 
mander  in  his  youth,  had  decided  to  rehabilitate  the 
navy  with  a  view  to  putting  it  on  its  old  footing,  and 
with  that  object  in  view  he  had  sent  one  of  his  best 

83 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


admirals  across  the  sea  to  the  important  island  of 
Jamaica,  then  the  headquarters  of  the  West  India 
Squadron. 

Kempthorne  had  welcomed  the  duty,  and  had 
determined  that  so  far  as  the  station  at  Port  Koyal 
was  concerned  he  would  make  it  the  model  one  of  the 
colonies,  of  the  kingdom  itself  for  that  matter,  pro 
vided  he  were  sustained  by  the  King  as  had  been 
promised.  Lord  Carlingford,  with  the  zeal  of  a  new 
appointee,  had  promised  his  cooperation. 

The  admiral  was  seated  in  the  cabin  of  the  frigate 
that  night  cogitating  upon  his  plans,  when  his 
thoughts  were  interrupted  by  the  rattle  of  oars,  in 
dicating  the  arrival  of  a  boat.  The  sound  of  the 
approaching  boat  came  faintly  through  the  open 
stern  windows  of  the  cabin  under  the  high  poop-deck. 

The  ship  was  more  or  less  deserted.  The  sick  men 
had  been  put  ashore;  most  of  the  crew,  and  the 
officers  as  well,  had  followed  them.  They  would  not 
be  back  until  the  morrow,  when  Sir  John  had  orders 
to  get  away  in  pursuit  of  Hornigold's  pinnace.  With 
the  captain  in  the  cabin,  however,  was  the  old  master 
of  the  ship,  a  man  who  had  been  promoted  to  that 
rank  after  the  famous  fight  with  the  Algerines  be 
cause  of  his  gallantry  in  that  action.  Kempthorne 
was  consulting  with  him  about  the  necessary  arrange 
ments  before  sailing  the  next  day. 

84 


BUCCANEER 


As  the  admiral  heard  the  noise  made  by  the  oars 
in  the  oarlocks  he  raised  his  voice,  and  calling  a 
sentry,  for  there  was  half  a  platoon  of  soldiers  on 
board  who  had  not  yet  been  allowed  liberty  (the  be 
ginnings  of  the  Royal  Marine  of  England,  by  the 
way),  he  bade  him  ascertain  if  the  approaching  boat 
was  that  containing  the  Governor.  It  was  still  early 
evening,  and  Lord  Carlingford  had  announced  his 
intention  of  sleeping  in  the  ship,  for  the  weather  was 
intensely  warm  and  he  thought  it  might  be  cooler  in 
the  harbor  than  in  the  crowded  low-lying  town  of 
Port  Royal. 

At  the  same  time  the  admiral  arose,  buckled  on  his 
sword,  and  made  ready  to  go  on  deck  to  meet  Lord 
Carlingford,  should  it  prove  to  be  his  expected 
visitor.  Pausing  a  moment  to  say  a  final  word  to  the 
master,  he  was  conscious  of  something  striking  the 
ship.  Before  he  could  formulate  the  idea  that  a  boat 
must  have  been  hit  the  bends,  there  were  several 
similar  shocks.  The  old  master,  who  happened  to  be 
unarmed,  stepped  forward. 

"  That  will  be  a  boat,  sir,"  he  said  quickly,  "  strik 
ing  against  the  side  of  the  ship.  There's  another,  and 
another !  " 

His  voice  indicated  surprise  and  some  apprehen 
sion.  What  could  it  be  ? 

"  Let  us  go  on  deck  at  once,"  said  Kempthorne, 
85 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


stepping  forward.  As  he  did  so  the  silence  was 
broken  by  a  wild,  terrified  cry.  A  moment  after, 
the  sentry  on  the  quarter-deck  outside  the  entrance 
to  the  poop  cabin  fired  his  piece.  The  shot  was  fol 
lowed  by  the  sound  of  a  fierce  blow,  and  then  a  heavy 
fall.  A  sharp,  imperious  voice  cried  quickly : 

"  The  ship  is  ours !  Waste  no  time !  Overboard 
with  him !  Clap  to  the  hatch  covers !  " 

The  necessity  for  concealment  outside  was  appar 
ently  at  an  end.  The  heavy  covers  were  flung  down 
upon  the  hatches  and  secured.  The  ship  was  filled 
with  a  confused  babel  of  many  voices  and  trampling 
feet.  At  the  sound  of  the  shot,  the  admiral  and  the 
master  sprang  to  the  door,  but  before  they  could  pass 
the  entrance  it  was  flung  violently  open,  and  a  man 
richly  dressed  after  the  fashion  of  Jamaica,  followed 
by  a  tall,  savage-looking  half-breed,  a  compound  of 
negro  and  Indian,  clad  in  a  gorgeous  livery,  each  with 
pistol  and  sword,  sprang  into  the  room  and  forced  the 
two  men  back.  As  soon  as  he  could  recover  himself 
Kempthorne  whipped  out  his  sword.  He  found  him 
self  covered,  however,  as  did  the  master,  with  a 
pistol. 

"  Throw  down  your  sword  ! "  cried  Morgan  fiercely, 
•"  and  yield  yourselves  without  quarter." 

"  Who  are  you  that  ask?  " 

"  Sir  Henry  Morgan." 

86 


BUCCANEER 


"  You  bloody  villain !  "  cried  Kempthorne.  "  Dare 
you  attempt  to  take  the  King's  ship  ?  " 

"  That  for  the  King !  "  answered  Morgan,  waving 
his  sword.  "  Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  Sir  John  Kempthorne,  Admiral  and  Vice- 
Governor  of  Jamaica." 

"  You  would  fain  fill  my  station,  would  you,  sir?  " 

"  I  would  not  descend  to  the  station  of  a  pirate,  a 
robber,  a  murderer,  a — 

"  S'death,  silence !  "  roared  Morgan  furiously. 
"  The  ship  is  ours !  I've  a  message  for  the  King. 
Wilt  carry  it  ?  " 

"  I  would  not  insult  my  royal  master  by  carrying  a 
message  from  such  as  you." 

"  You  will  have  it !  "  shouted  Morgan,  white  with 
rage,  lunging  forward  at  him. 

Their  blades  crossed  in  an  instant,  and  at  the  same 
moment  the  old  master,  reckless  of  what  happened, 
flung  himself  between  the  two.  There  was  a  roar 
from  Carib's  pistol,  and  the  old  man  fell.  As 
Kempthorne  relaxed  his  guard  slightly  in  the  con 
fusion  Morgan  ran  him  through.  The  admiral  fell 
so  suddenly  that  he  jerked  the  blade,  buried  in  his 
breast,  out  of  the  buccaneer's  hand. 

"  God — "  he  gasped,  as  he  lay  upon  the  body  of 
the  old  sailor,  "  God — save  the — King." 

"  Would'st  sit  in  my  place,  eh  ?  "  cried  Morgan, 
87 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


laughing  truculently  as  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  left 
the  cabin. 

Beneath  the  hatches,  the  platoon  of  soldiers  and 
the  men  there  imprisoned  were  yelling  and  making 
a  tremendous  racket.  They  were  helpless,  however, 
and  could  do  nothing.  The  men  of  the  boarding 
parties  were  clustered  in  groups  forward  and  aft  and 
around  the  closed  passageways  into  the  interior  of 
the  ship,  waiting  for  the  next  order. 

The  noise  and  confusion  which  had  followed  the 
sentry's  bold  shot  had  awakened  the  attention  of  the 
people  of  the  town.  Lights  twinkled  on  the  ramparts 
of  the  fort,  and  the  long  roll  of  a  drum  could  be 
heard  coming  faintly  up  the  harbor  against  the  wind. 
Lord  Carlingford  had  just  entered  his  boat  to  board 
the  ship.  There  was  not  a  moment  to  lose. 

"  Hornigold,  go  forward  with  your  men  to  the 
forecastle.  Yelsers,  come  you  hither  with  yours  for 
the  after  guard.  Teach,  to  the  fore;  Raveneau,  to 
the  main;  and  Eock?  to  the  mizzenmast.  Loose  sail. 
Lively  now.  We  must  get  out  of  this  before  the 
fort's  awake,"  cried  Morgan. 

Instantly  the  shrouds  were  covered  with  nimble 
forms  making  their  way  aloft  where  the  wide  yard- 
arms  stretched  far  over  the  sea.  The  men  were  in 
good  spirits.  The  capture  of  the  ship  had  been  so 
easy;  there  had  been  only  the  anchor  watch  and  the 

88 


Their  blades  crossed  in  an   instant      .      .      .      There  was  a  roar 
from  Carib's  pistol,  and  the  old  man  fell. 


BUCCANEER 


sentry  on  deck  to  deal  with,  and  they  had  been  mur 
dered  unsuspecting,  although  the  cabin  sentry  had 
killed  one  of  the  attacking  party  and  wounded  an 
other  before  he  went  down.  They  jumped  with 
alacrity,  therefore,  to  obey  their  captain's  commands. 
As  the  ponderous  sheets  of  canvas  fell  from  the 
yards,  the  men  lay  down  from  aloft,  and  sheets  and 
halyards  were  manned,  the  cable  that  moored  the 
vessel  to  the  anchor  was  cut,  the  ship  swung  to  star 
board,  the  yards  were  braced  in,  and  she  began  to 
slip  through  the  water  toward  the  narrow  mouth  of 
the  harbor.  There  were  other  war  vessels  in  the  har 
bor,  but  they  were  all  dismantled  and  laid  up  in 
ordinary,  so  the  buccaneers  had  no  pursuit  to  fear. 

The  guns  of  the  fort  commanded  the  harbor 
mouth,  and  under  ordinary  circumstances  would  have 
made  it  impossible  for  a  ship  to  enter  or  leave  with 
out  permission.  The  mouth  was  narrow  and  danger 
ous,  but  the  best  pilot  in  the  West  Indies  stood  for 
ward  leaning  over  the  knightheads,  conning  the  ship. 
Raveneau  and  Yelsers,  than  whom  no  better  seamen 
ever  held  a  spoke,  by  Morgan's  orders  were  stationed 
at  the  wheel  to  steer  the  frigate.  Eock  and  Teach 
distributed  the  best  of  the  men  among  the  guns  of 
the  spar-deck  battery  on  the  port  side.  As  was  usual, 
the  guns  were  already  charged.  There  were  no 
loggerheads  available,  no  matches  with  which  to  fire 

89 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


them,  but  Morgan  instructed  those  who  seemed  to 
have  some  skill  in  gunnery,  whom  he  placed  in  tem 
porary  charge  of  the  cannon,  how  to  fire  them  by 
snapping  their  pistols  at  the  touch-holes,  which  were 
primed  from  a  powder  horn  that  had  been  brought  by 
the  pirates. 

The  land  breeze  was  fresh  and  strong,  and  the 
Mary  Hose  vindicated  her  claim  to  be  considered  a 
fast  sailer.  She  fairly  ripped  down  the  harbor, 
threading  her  way  through  the  channel  under  Horni- 
gold's  nice  pilotage  until  she  came  near  to  the  narrow 
entrance.  By  Morgan's  orders  each  man  remained 
motionless  at  the  place  where  he  had  been  stationed, 
and  the  ship,  so  far  as  human  noise  was  concerned, 
was  as  still  as  death.  Even  the  soldiers  below,  finding 
no  attention  paid  to  their  cries,  had  subsided  into 
comparative  quiet.  The  silence  was  broken  only  by 
the  creaking  of  cordage,  the  dashing  of  water  against 
the  bows,  and  the  groaning  of  the  timbers.  Ever  and 
anon  Hornigold's  deep  voice,  crying  "  Larboard  "  or 
"  Starboard  "  as  the  case  might  be,  rolled  along  the 
deck  to  the  watchful  men  gripping  the  wheel.  Sud 
denly  the  old  buccaneer  cried  out  sharply: 

"  There's  a  boat  right  ahead,  sir." 

"  Run  her  down !  "  answered  Morgan  instantly. 

"  Ay,  ay !    Starboard !    Starboard  again  !    Let  her 


00 


BUCCANEER 


go  off  another  half -point.  Steady!  Very  well  dyce. 
Now !  Meet  her !  Meet  her !  " 

The  ship  swept  around  slightly  and  rushed  directly 
at  the  boat.  It  was  the  boat  of  the  Governor.  In 
stantly  wild  cries  arose  from  the  men  on  the  thwarts. 
They  were  stopped  by  a  stern  voice. 

"  Ahoy,  the  Mary  Rose!  " 

Silence. 

"  Ahoy,  the  frigate !  What  are  you  doing  ? 
Where  is  Admiral  Kempthorne  ?  " 

At  that  instant  the  soldiers  beneath  the  hatches 
suddenly  resumed  their  commotion,  thus  apprising 
the  men  in  the  boat  that  something  was  sadly  wrong. 

"  Larboard  your  helm !  "  cried  a  voice  from  the 
boat,  "  or  you'll  be  on  us.  Who's  in  command  ? 
What  are  you  about  ?  " 

"  Sir  Harry  Morgan !  "  shouted  a  voice  out  of  the 
darkness.  "  And  we  mean  to  run  you  down." 

"  Back  water,  for  God's  sake  !  Stern,  all !  "  cried 
Lord  Carlingf ord  to  the  paralyzed  rowers ;  but  before 
they  could  move  the  looming  bow  of  the  frigate  was 
upon  them.  Carlingf  ord  had  risen  in  his  boat  before 
the  collision,  and  with  dauntless  courage  he  shook  his 
bared  sword  in  the  darkness  toward  the  ship. 

"  The  King  will  triumph  !  "  he  cried. 

"  You  can  go  to  hell !  "  shouted  Morgan,  "  with 


91 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


Hawxherst  and  Bradley  and  Kempthorne  and  all  who 
oppose  me.'7 

A  terrible,  smashing  crash  cut  short  his  words, 
and,  amid  the  ripping,  tearing  sound  of  the  parting 
timbers  of  the  overridden  boat,  and  shouts,  cries,  and 
appeals  for  mercy,  the  Mary  Rose  swept  on.  One 
or  two  beneath  her  forefoot  leaped  frantically  at 
the  bobstays,  but  they  were  driven  from  their  holds 
by  savage  pike  thrusts  from  Hornigold's  men. 

A  wild  yell  of  elation  broke  from  the  pirates. 
They  were  completely  possessed  by  their  success  now, 
but  Morgan  stopped  the  noise  in  an  instant. 

"  Silence  !  "  roared  the  captain.  "  We  are  not 
yet  free.  Back  to  your  stations !  Stand  by  the  lar 
board  battery !  " 

At  that  time  the  entrance  to  the  harbor  was  very 
narrow,  and  the  channel  swept  close  under  the  Port 
Royal  shore.  Everybody  in  the  town  knew  that  some 
thing  had  happened  on  the  frigate.  The  garrison  of 
the  fort  was  out  and  the  guns  were  loaded  and  bore 
fair  upon  the  channel.  Softly,  for  they  were  within 
earshot  distance  of  the  fort,  Morgan  passed  the  word 
to  train  the  guns  of  the  battery  on  the  parapet  of 
the  fort.  He  also  told  off  all  the  men  with  small  arms 
to  line  the  side,  with  instructions  for  them  to  fire  at 
the  port-holes  of  the  fort  as  they  passed,  and  he 
charged  every  one,  under  pain  of  death,  to  keep  all 

92 


BUCCANEER 


fast  until  he  gave  the  word.  Hornigold  bent  all  his 
mind  to  getting  the  ship  safely  out  of  the  harbor. 
Two  or  three  reliable  men  were  stationed  in  the  gang 
way,  whose  sole  business  it  was  to  repeat  his  com 
mands  without  fail  during  the  confusion,  no  matter 
what  happened.  They  were  right  in  the  entrance 
now,  and  coming  opposite  the  fort.  The  men  below 
were  still  keeping  up  a  great  noise,  but  a  hail  which 
came  across  the  water  from  the  rampart  was  entirely 
audible,  the  distance  not  being  more  than  half  pistol 
shot. 

"  Hello,  the  Mary  Rose!    Hello,  the  frigate !  " 

"Ay,  ay!    What  is  it?" 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  Where's  Lord  Carling- 
ford?" 

There  was  no  answer.  The  rapidly  moving  ship 
was  fairly  abreast  the  fort  now.  In  thirty  seconds 
she  would  be  beyond  it. 

"  We  have  killed  the  Governor  and  Kempthorne, 
and  this  is  the  ship  of  Sir  Henry  Morgan,  bound  for 
the  Spanish  Main  on  a  buccaneering  cruise.  Fire !  " 

A  perfect  hail  of  shot  at  point  blank  range  belched 
forth  from  the  twenty-four  guns  of  the  larboard  bat 
tery  of  the  on-rushing  ship.  In  the  surprise  and  con 
fusion  caused  by  this  murderous  discharge  at  short 
range,  the  frigate  slipped  by,  and  although  every  gun 
in  the  fort,  whether  it  bore  or  not,  was  finally  dis- 

93 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 

charged  by  the  infuriated  soldiery,  no  serious  damage 
was  done  to  the  ship.  Here  and  there  a  man  fell. 
The  starboard  main  topsail  sheet  was  cut,  a  few  ropes 
parted,  but  that  was  all.  Pouring  a  perfect  hail  of 
musketry  and  pistol  fire  upon  the  surprised  garrison, 
which  did  execution,  the  frigate  slipped  through  the 
channel.  Before  the  cannon  could  be  reloaded  they 
were  out  of  range.  There  before  them  lay  the  open 
sea,  bounded  to  the  southward  by  the  rich  and  unpro 
tected  cities  of  the  Spanish  Main. 

"  We're  out  of  the  harbor,  sir,"  cried  Hornigold, 
coming  aft  to  where  Morgan  stood  triumphant  on  the 
poop. 

"  That's  well !  "  said  the  commander.  "  Secure 
the  guns  and  muster  the  crew.  We'll  divide  into 
watches  and  bear  away  to  the  southward." 

"  Long  live  Sir  Henry  Morgan,  King  of  the  Buc 
caneers  !  "  cried  a  voice  out  of  the  darkness,  and  amid 
a  tremendous  roar  of  cheers  the  vessel  swept  away, 
leaving  the  lights  of  Port  Royal  twinkling  faintly  in 
the  distance  far  behind  them. 


94 


BOOK  II 

THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  BUCCANEERS  AND  WHAT 
BEFEL  THEM  ON  THE  SEAS 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   V 

MOW    THE     "MARY     ROSE"     OVERHAULED     THREE     SPANISH 
TREASURE   SHIPS 

EN  days  after  her  departure  from  Port 
Royal  the  Mary  Rose  was  tumbling 
southward  before  a  gentle  breeze 
through  the  blue  and  languid  seas. 
Much  had  happened  in  the  interval.  In  the  first 
place,  Morgan  had  organized  and  drilled  the  ship's 
crew  relentlessly.  With  the  aid  of  the  five  principal 
adventurers,  whom  he  had  constituted  his  lieuten 
ants,  he  had  brought  the  motley  crowd  which  he  had 
shipped  into  a  state  of  comparative  efficiency  and  of 
entire  subjection  to  his  iron  will.  Years  of  quasi- 
respectability,  of  financial  position,  of  autocratic 
power  as  Yice-Governor  had  modified  the  ideas  of 
the  old  buccaneer,  and  the  co-operative  principle 
which  had  been  the  mainspring  of  action  as  well  as 
tie  which  produced  unity  among  the  brethren-of-the- 
coast  had  ceased  to  be  regarded,  so  far  as  he  was  con 
cerned.  He  took  care,  however,  to  be  upon  fairly 
amicable  terms  with  the  officers  in  command  and  the 

97 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


veterans,  though  he  treated  the  rest  of  the  riff-raff 
like  the  dogs  they  were.  They  murmured  and  raged 
but  did  not  revolt,  although  it  was  quite  possible  that 
if  he  pushed  them  too  far,  and  they  found  a  leader, 
they  might  make  trouble. 

In  accordance  with  Hornigold's  advice,  after  delib 
eration  between  Morgan  and  the  leaders,  the  Mary 
Rose  had  first  run  up  to  La  Vaca  Island,  south  of 
Hispaniola,  and  the  number  of  original  marauders 
had  been  increased  by  fifty  volunteers,  all  those, 
indeed,  who  could  be  reached,  from  the  small  pirates 
who  made  that  delectable  spot  their  rendezvous.  In 
addition  to  those,  the  crew  had  also  been  reenforced 
largely  from  those  of  the  unpaid  and  discontented 
seamen  and  soldiers  of  the  frigate  who  had  happened 
to  be  under  hatches  the  night  of  the  capture.  Pres 
ented  with  the  choice  of  instant  death  or  adherence 
to  the  band,  most  of  them  had  accepted  the  latter  al 
ternative,  although,  to  their  great  credit  be  it  said,  not 
until  one  or  two  of  the  loyal  veterans,  who  had  hotly 
refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with  their  ruffianly 
captors,  had  been  forced  to  walk  the  plank  as  an 
example  to  the  rest  should  they  prove  recalcitrant. 
Partly  through  terror,  partly  through  discontent, 
partly  on  account  of  promises  of  the  great  reward 
awaiting  them,  speciously  urged  by  Morgan  himself, 
for  he  could  talk  as  well  as  he  could  fight,  and,  most 

98 


BUCCANEER 


of  all,  because  even  at  that  date  it  was  considered  a 
meritorious  act  to  attack  a  Spaniard  or  a  Papist 
under  any  circumstances  or  conditions,  especially  by 
persons  as  ignorant  as  the  class  in  question,  some 
seventy  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  rest. 

Among  the  two  hundred  and  twenty  members  of 
the  heterogeneous  crew  so  constituted,  were  to  be 
found  natives  of  almost  every  race  under  the  sun, 
even  including  one  or  two  Spanish  renegados,  and  it 
would  be  safe  to  say  that  the  lowest  and  meanest 
representatives  of  the  several  races  were  assembled 
on  that  very  ship.  The  officers  and  men  who  had 
been  recruited  from  Isla  La  Yaca,  as  well  as  the 
older  original  members  of  the  crew  of  the  Mary 
Rose,  together  with  a  select  few  of  the  remainder, 
were  men  of  approved  courage.  The  officers,  indeed, 
bore  reputations  for  hardihood  and  daring  not  to  be 
surpassed.  Most  of  the  rest,  however,  were  arrant 
cowards.  As  a  body  the  band  could  not  compare, 
except  in  leadership,  with  the  former  bands  of  buc 
caneers  who  had  made  themselves  and  their  names  a 
terror  to  Latin  civilization  in  the  New  World. 

Morgan  himself,  however,  almost  made  up  for  all 
deficiencies.  Age  had  not  quenched  his  ardor, 
diminished  his  courage,  or  deprived  him  of  that  mag 
netic  quality  which  had  made  him  an  unquestioned 
leader  of  men.  His  eye  was  as  keen,  his  hand  as 

99 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


steady,  his  soul  as  reckless,  and  his  skill  as  high  as 
when  he  had  led  the  greatest  buccaneer  fleet  that  had 
ever  assembled,  on  the  famous  Panama  expedition. 
Everybody  on  the  ship  hated  him  except  young 
Teach  and  the  faithful  Black  Dog;  the  old  buc 
caneers  because  he  had  betrayed  them,  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  the  crew  because  he  had  captured  their 
ship  and  forced  them  to  become  his  allies,  the  mean 
and  lowly  body  of  rascals  because  he  kept  them  ruth 
lessly  under  hand.  But  they  all  feared  him  as  much 
as  they  hated  him  and  they  admired  him  as  much  as 
they  feared  him. 

So  far  as  he  was  concerned  discipline  was  absolute. 
He  still  seemed  to  fancy  himself  the  Vice-Governor 
and  the  representative  of  that  King  against  whom  he 
had  taken  up  arms.  He  demanded  to  be  treated 
accordingly.  No  admiral  of  the  fleet  was  ever  served 
more  promptly  and  respectfully  than  he.  Even  his 
nearest  associates  were  treated  with  a  certain 
haughtiness,  which  they  bitterly  resented  and  which 
they  would  have  called  in  question  had  the  situation 
been  other  than  it  was.  Truth  to  tell,  influenced  by 
Hornigold,  they  had  embarked  upon  a  mad  enter 
prise,  and  they  needed  Morgan  to  bring  it  to  a  suc 
cessful  conclusion.  Without  him  the  slender  coher 
ence  which  already  existed  would  fail,  and  anarchy 
would  be  the  state  upon  the  ship.  There  would  be 

100 


BUCCANEER 


nothing  left  to  them  but  to  scatter  if  they  could  make 
an  unheeded  landing  at  some  convenient  place,  or  be 
captured,  if  they  could  not,  with  a  certainty  of  being 
hung  forthwith.  So  long  as  they  remained  together, 
it  was  certain  that  Morgan  would  lead  them  on  some 
successful  enterprise  and  they  might  get  some  reward 
for  their  risks  and  crimes.  In  his  safety  lay  their 
safety. 

The  buccaneer  was  entirely  aware  of  this,  and 
therefore  counted  freely  upon  the  backing  of  the 
veterans  among  the  officers  and  crew.  He  would 
take  care  of  the  rest. 

The  ship,  however,  was  a  floating  colony  of  sus 
picion,  treachery,  and  hatred.  Morgan  himself  never 
appeared  without  being  loaded  with  weapons,  not  for 
bravado  but  for  use  should  occasion  rise,  and  his  back 
was  always  protected  by  the  silent  and  gigantic 
maroon,  whom  the  sailors,  catching  the  title  from 
those  who  had  known  him  of  old,  referred  to  with 
malignant  hatred  as  "Black  Dog."  That  was  a 
name,  indeed,  which  the  taciturn  half-breed  rather 
rejoiced  in  than  resented.  Morgan  had  been  able  to 
awaken  love  in  no  hearts  except  those  of  young 
Teach,  whose  feeling  was  admiration  rather  than 
affection,  and  this  half-breed  maroon.  Whether  it 
was  from  his  black  African  mother  or  from  his  fierce 
red  Carib  father  he  inherited  the  quality  of  devotion 

101 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


was  not  apparent.  Devoted  he  had  been  and  devoted 
he  remained. 

Close  association  in  the  narrow  confines  of  the  ship 
with  the  man  who  had,  as  he  believed,  wronged  him, 
had  but  intensified  Hornigold's  hatred.  The  One- 
Eyed  found  it  difficult  to  dissemble,  and  took  refuge 
in  a  reticence  which  was  foreign  to  his  original  frank 
and  open  character.  Morgan  half  suspected  the  state 
of  affairs  in  his  old  boatswain's  moiled  and  evil  soul, 
and  he  watched  him  on  account  of  it  more  closely 
than  the  others,  but  with  no  great  disquiet  in  his 
heart.  Truth  to  tell,  the  old  pirate  was  never  so 
happy  as  in  the  midst  of  dangers,  imminent  and 
threatening,  which  would  have  broken  the  spirit  of 
a  less  resolute  man.  There  was  one  among  the 
officers  he  was  sure  of  and  upon  whom  he  could 
depend  in  an  emergency,  and  that  was  young  Teach. 
He  had  flattered  him  by  unusual  marks  of  kindness, 
and  alone  among  the  officers  this  fellow  did  not  seem 
to  cherish  the  rancor  and  suspicion  of  the  others. 
He  was  too  young  to  have  experienced  a  betrayal  as 
had  the  rest;  this  was  his  first  venture  in  actual 
piracy  and  he  found  it  marvelously  pleasant. 

The  officers,  too,  were  all  suspicious  of  one  another. 
As  each  one  nursed  his  own  private  designs  he  sus 
pected  the  others  of  doing  likewise — and  with  reason. 
But  there  was  as  yet  little  outward  friction  among 

102 


BUCCANEER 


them.  Kaveneau,  for  instance,  was  most  scrupu 
lously  polite  to  the  captain  and  his  associates.  Vel- 
sers  was  too  stupid  in  his  cups — and  he  was  generally 
in  them — to  do  more  than  growl,  and  the  Brazilian 
had  all  the  capacities  of  his  race  for  subtle  conceal 
ment. 

Although  the  necessary  orders  for  working  the 
ship  were  obeyed  and  Morgan  personally  imposed 
implicit  obedience  and  respect  for  his  commands,  no 
duties  other  than  those  required  were  performed  by 
the  men.  During  the  day  when  not  at  work  or  at 
drill,  they  drank,  smoked,  gambled,  and  fought  at 
pleasure,  although,  as  the  captain  mercilessly  exer 
cised  them  during  long  hours  at  the  great  guns  and 
with  small  arms,  they  did  not  have  any  too  much 
leisure  for  play.  During  the  night  they  kept  watch 
and  watch,  of  course,  but  in  it  all  they  took  no  care 
of  the  ship,  and  filth  and  dirt  abounded.  If  they  had 
anticipated  a  long  cruise  things  would  necessarily 
have  been  different,  but  as  they  had  gone  far  to  the 
southward  now,  and  might  make  a  landfall  at  any 
moment  there  was  no  necessity  for  bothering  about 
mere  cleanliness,  which,  as  it  is  supposed  to  be  next 
to  godliness,  was  naturally  far  removed  from  this 
band  of  cut-throats.  Morgan  had  not  communicated 
his  ultimate  purposes  to  his  men  as  yet,  but  as  he  was 


103 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  only  navigator  on  the  ship  he  was,  perforce, 
allowed  to  have  his  own  way. 

Breakfast  had  been  served — a  meagre  breakfast  it 
was,  too,  for  all  hands  were  on  short  allowance  of 
everything  but  spirits,  on  account  of  the  unprovided 
state  of  the  ship.  Fortunately  for  their  contentment, 
there  was  plenty  of  rum  on  board.  The  men  were 
congregated  forward  on  the  forecastle  or  in  the  waist, 
wrangling  and  arguing  as  usual.  The  officers  gath 
ered  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  Morgan  paced  the  high 
raised  poop  alone,  overlooking  them,  when  the  look 
out  suddenly  reported  three  sail  in  sight.  The  half- 
drunken  sailor  who  had  been  sent  aloft  at  daybreak 
had  kept  negligent  watch,  for  almost  as  soon  as  he 
had  made  his  report  the  ships  were  observed  from 
the  deck  of  the  frigate. 

The  Mary  Rose  had  the  wind  on  her  quarter,  her 
best  point  of  sailing,  and  she  was  covered  with  can 
vas  from  her  trucks  to  her  decks,  from  her  spritsail 
yard  to  her  huge  mizzen  crossjack,  a  lateen  sail.  The 
wind  was  light,  but  she  was  making  rapid  progress 
toward  the  approaching  strangers,  who,  with  their 
larboard  tacks  aboard,  were  beating  up  toward  the 
English. 

Attended  by  the  maroon,  Morgan,  pistol  in  hand, 
went  forward  to  the  forecastle,  kicking  his  way  clear 
through  the  sullen,  black-browed  mass  of  sailors. 

104 


BUCCANEER 


He  ran  a  short  distance  up  the  weather  fore-shrouds 
and  took  a  long  look  at  the  strangers.  They  all  flew 
the  yellow  flag  of  Spain.  One  was  a  huge  galleon, 
the  other  two  smaller  ships,  though  larger  in  each 
instance  than  the  Mary  Rose,  and  all  heavily  armed. 

One  of  the  plate  ships  from  Porto  Bello  was  due 
in  this  latitude  about  this  time,  and  Morgan  instantly 
surmised  that  the  galleon  was  she,  and  that  the  two 
others  were  Spanish  frigates  to  give  her  safe  convoy 
across  the  ocean.  Spain  was  at  peace  with  all  the 
world  at  that  time,  and  the  two  frigates  would  have 
been  ample  to  ward  off  the  attack  of  any  of  the  small 
piratical  craft  which  had  succeeded  the  buccaneer 
ships  of  the  Caribbean.  The  Spaniards  had  no  idea 
that  such  a  vulture  as  Morgan  was  afloat;  therefore, 
although  they  had  sighted  the  Mary  Rose  long  before 
she  had  seen  them  because  they  kept  better  watch, 
they  came  on  fearlessly  and  without  hesitation.  It 
was  evident  to  the  experienced  officers  among  them 
that  the  vessel  was  an  English  frigate,  and  as  Eng 
land  was  a  country  with  which  there  was  profound 
peace  at  the  time  they  apprehended  nothing. 

The  position  of  the  approaching  ships  with  refer 
ence  to  one  another  was  somewhat  peculiar.  The 
first  and  smallest  frigate  was  perhaps  half  a  mile 
ahead  of  her  consorts,  who  were  sailing  side  by  side, 
a  cable's  length  apart.  Morgan  at  once  determined 

105 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


to  attack  them.  He  knew  that  he  possessed  the 
handiest  ship,  and  he  believed  that  he  had  discovered 
a  way  to  master  the  other  three.  The  two  frigates 
were  the  most  dangerous  antagonists.  If  he  could 
dispose  of  them  the  galleon  would  be  at  his  mercy. 
He  did  not  hestitate  to  encounter  such  odds,  and  even 
in  the  minds  of  the  craven  part  of  the  crew  one 
English  ship  was  thought  to  be  good  for  any  three 
Spaniards  that  ever  floated. 

The  interest  of  the  crew  had  been  excited  by  the 
approaching  strangers,  which  were  rapidly  drawing 
nearer.  They  ceased  their  arguments  and  strife, 
therefore,  and  crowded  forward,  looking  alternately 
from  the  foreign  ships  to  their  own  leader,  lightly 
poised  on  the  sheer-poles  scanning  the  enemy.  There 
were  plenty  of  men  of  sufficient  experience  among 
them  to  pronounce  them  Spanish  ships  immediately, 
and  they  therefore  anticipated  that  work  lay  before 
them  that  morning.  Presently  Morgan  sprang  down 
upon  the  forecastle  and  faced  his  men. 

"  Lads,"  he  said,  "  those  are  Spanish  ships." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  came  from  one  another  as  he 
paused  a  moment  to  let  the  significance  of  his  an 
nouncement  sink  in. 

"  And,"  he  continued,  raising  his  voice  so  that  it 
was  audible  throughout  the  ship,  "  the  great  one  will 


106 


BUCCANEER 


be  one  of  the  plate  ships  homeward  bound — but  she'll 
never  get  there — from  Porto  Bello !  " 

A  perfect  yell  of  delight  drowned  his  further 
remarks.  The  men  shrieked  and  shouted  and  hur 
rahed  at  the  joyous  announcement,  as  if  all  they 
had  to  do  was  to  go  aboard  and  take  the  ships.  When 
the  hullabaloo  had  subsided,  Morgan  continued : 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you  take  it  so  bravely,  for  while 
there  is  treasure  enough  under  her  hatches  to  make 
us  all  rich,  yet  we'll  not  get  it  without  a  fight,  for 
yonder  are  two  heavily  armed  frigates.  We'll  have 
to  dispose  of  them  before  we  get  at  the  galleon.  But, 
hearts  of  oak,  I  never  saw  the  buccaneer  who  wasn't 
worth  three  or  a  dozen  of  the  Dons,  and  with  a  stout 
ship  like  this  one  under  my  feet  and  a  band  of  brave 
hearts  like  you  I  wouldn't  hesitate  to  tackle  the  whole 
Spanish  navy.  It  means  a  little  fighting,  but  think 
of  the  prize !  "  he  cried,  playing  skilfully  upon  the 
cupidity  of  his  men.  "  Some  of  us  will  lose  the  num 
ber  of  our  messes,  perhaps,  before  nightfall;  but," 
he  continued,  making  a  most  singular  and  effective 
appeal,  "  there  will  be  more  to  divide  for  each  man 
that  is  left  alive.  Are  you  with  me  ?  " 

"  To  the  death !  "  cried  young  Teach,  who  had 
come  forward  and  mingled  with  the  crowd,  lifting  a 
naked  cutlass  as  he  spoke.  His  cry  was  taken  up  and 
repeated,  first  by  one  and  then  another  until  the 

107 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


whole  body  was  yelling  frantically  to  be  given  a 
chance  to  fight  the  Spanish  ships. 

"  That's  well/7  said  Morgan  grimly.  "  Master 
Teach,  here,  will  command  forward  on  the  foVsl. 
Raveneau  and  Velsers  shall  attend  to  the  batteries  in 
the  waist.  I  appoint  you,  Hornigold,  to  look  after 
the  movements  of  the  ship.  See  that  the  best  hands 
are  at  the  wheel  and  have  sail  trimmers  ready.  My 
Portuguese  friend,  you  may  look  to  the  after  guns. 
Now  to  your  stations.  Cast  loose  and  provide !  Man 
the  larboard  battery !  See  every  thing  is  ready,  but 
hold  your  fire  and  keep  silence  under  pain  of  death ! 
Yon  frigate  over  there,  we'll  strike  first.  She'll  be 
unprepared  and  unsuspecting.  '  One  good  blow  ought 
to  dispose  of  her." 

As  he  spoke,  the  men  hurried  to  their  stations. 
There  was  no  lack  of  skill  on  the  frigate,  and  now 
was  seen  the  value  of  Morgan's  constant  drilling. 
The  cannon  of  the  ship  were  cast  loose  and  loaded, 
loggerheads  and  matches  lighted,  small  arms  dis 
tributed  and  primed,  pikes  were  served  out,  cutlasses 
loosened  in  their  sheaths,  and  such  as  had  armor,  still 
worn  in  greater  or  less  degree  even  in  that  day, 
donned  it,  and  the  ship  was  full  of  busy  preparation. 

"  We've  no  flag  flying,  sir,"  said  Hornigold  as 
the  men  settled  down  to  their  stations,  grim  and 

ready. 

108 


BUCCANEER 


".Ay,"  said  Morgan,  "  show  the  English  flag. 
We'll  make  as  much  trouble  for  his  gracious  majesty, 
King  James,  as  possible." 

In  a  short  time  the  glorious  colors  of  England, 
which  had  never  waved  over  so  despicable  a  crew  be 
fore,  rippled  out  in  the  freshening  breeze.  As  they 
were  rapidly  approaching  the  Spanish  ship  now,  Mor 
gan  descended  from  the  poop-deck  to  make  a  per 
sonal  inspection  of  his  frigate  before  beginning 
action.  He  found  everything  to  his  taste,  and 
passed  along  the  lines  of  silent  men  congregated 
around  the  guns  with  words  of  stern  appreciation. 

The  crews  of  the  guns  had  been  constituted  with 
great  care.  The  gun  captains  in  each  instance  were 
tried  and  proved  seamen,  men  as  fearless  as  they 
were  capable.  The  weaker  and  the  more  wretched 
portion  of  the  band  had  been  so  placed  that  oppor 
tunity  for  showing  cowardice  would  be  greatly  cir 
cumscribed,  and  the  stern  command  of  the  captain 
that  the  officers  and  petty  officers  should  instantly 
shoot  any  man  who  flinched  from  duty  was  not  with 
out  effect.  He  did  not  hesitate  to  remind  the  men, 
either,  that  they  fought  with  halters  around  their 
necks.  As  even  the  craven  becomes  dangerous  when 
pushed  to  the  wall,  he  felt  they  would  give  a  good 
account  of  themselves. 

"  Hornigold,"  said  Morgan,  as  he  stepped  up  on 
109 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  quarter-deck  again,  "  I  want  the  frigate  to  pass 
as  close  to  windward  of  that  Spanish  ship  as  you  can 
bring  her  without  touching.  Let  her  not  suspect  our 
desire,  but  whirl  into  her  as  we  get  abreast.  Don't 
fall  foul  of  her  as  you  value  your  life !  " 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  answered  that  veteran,  squinting 
forward  along  the  jib-boom  with  his  one  eye  as  if 
measuring  the  distance,  "  I'll  bring  her  close  enough 
for  you  to  leap  aboard  and  yet  never  touch  a  rope 
yarn  on  her." 

He  spoke  with  the  consciousness  and  pride  of  his 
skill. 

"  Xow,  lads,"  cried  Morgan,  "  have  everything 
ready,  and  when  I  give  the  word  pour  it  in  on  yonder 
ship..  I  want  to  settle  her  with  one  broadside.  It'll 
be  touch  and  go,  for  we've  got  to  dispose  of  her  in 
an  instant.  Stand  by  for  the  word !  Now,  lie  down, 
all,  behind  the  bulwarks  and  rails.  Let  us  make  no 
show  of  force  as  we  come  up.  We  must  not  arouse 
suspicion. " 

The  two  ships,  the  Mary  Rose  going  free,  the 
Spanish  frigate  close  hauled  on  the  port  tack,  were 
now  within  hailing  distance.  As  they  approached 
each  other  the  buccaneer  could  see  that  the  other 
ship  was  crowded  with  men.  Among  her  people  the 
flash  of  sunlight  upon  iron  helms  denoted  that  she 
carried  a  company  of  soldiers.  The  Spaniards  were 

110 


BUCCANEER 


entirely  unsuspecting.  The  men  had  not  gone  to 
their  quarters,  the  guns  were  still  secured;  in  short, 
save  for  the  military  trappings  of  the  soldiers  on 
board  and  the  tompioned  muzzles  of  her  cannon,  she 
was  in  appearance  as  peaceful  a  vessel  as  sailed  the 
seas. 

The  two  ships  were  near  enough  now  to  make  con 
versation  possible,  and  the  Mary  Rose  was  hailed  by 
a  tall,  richly  dressed  officer  in  glistening  breastplate 
and  polished  steel  cap,  standing  on  the  forecastle  of 
the  other  ship. 

"  What  ship  is  that  ?  "  he  cried  in  broken  English. 

"  This  is  the  frigate  Mary  Rose."  The  usual 
answer  to  such  a  hail  would  have  been :  "  This  is  His 
Britannic  Majesty's  frigate  Mary  Rose"  but  the 
Spaniards  suspected  nothing  as  Morgan  continued, 
"  carrying  Sir  Henry  Morgan,  sometime  Vice-Gov- 
ernor  of  the  Island  of  Jamaica." 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  wish  the  Vice-Governor  a 
very  good  morning,"  answered  the  Spaniard,  courte 
ously  waving  his  hand  in  salutation. 

"  Xow,  Hornigold,  now !  "  said  Morgan  in  a  fierce 
whisper. 

The  old  boatswain  sprang  himself  to  the  wheel. 
With  his  powerful  hands  he  revolved  it  quickly  until 
it  was  hard  up.  The  frigate  answered  it  instantly. 
She  swung  away  toward  the  Spaniard  to  leeward  of 

111 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


her  with  a  suddenness  that  surprised  even  her  steers 
man. 

"  And  I  salute  the  Vice-Governor,"  continued  the 
Spanish  captain,  just  as  the  English  ship  swept  down 
upon  him;  and  then  he  cried  in  sudden  alarm  and 
excitement : 

"  Have  a  care,  sefior !  What  mean  you  ?  You 
will  be  aboard  of  us !  Hard  up  with  the  helm !  " 

As  soon  as  the  Mary  Rose  had  begun  to  fall  off, 
ay,  even  before  her  motion  had  been  perceptible, 
Hornigold  had  reversed  the  helm. 

"  Flow  the  head  sheets  there,"  he  cried,  shoving 
the  wheel  over  spoke  by  spoke  with  all  the  force  of 
his  arms.  "  Flatten  in  aft  a  little,  here  !  Steady ! 
Very  well  dyce.  We're  right  abreast  now,  Captain/' 
he  said. 

Almost  as  quickly  as  she  had  fallen  off  the  nimble 
frigate,  beautifully  handled,  came  to  the  wind  again. 
She  was  now  almost  in  touch  with  the  other  ship. 
Hornigold's  seamanship  and  skill  had  been  mag 
nificent.  He  had  done  all  that  was  asked  of  him  and 
all  that  he  had  promised. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  answered  Morgan  in  triumphant  com 
mendation.  "  Handsomely  done.  I  could  leap 
aboard !  " 

The  Spanish  ship  was  filled  with  confusion.     The 


113 


BUCCANEER 


captain,  with  his  face  black  with  rage,  stood  on  the 
forecastle  shaking  his  fist. 

"  This  is  outrageous,  sir !  "  he  shouted.  "  You 
have  nearly  run  us  down!  What  do  you  want?" 

"  I  want  to  return  your  salute,"  answered  Morgan 
suavely.  "  Up,  lads !  "  he  cried.  As  the  men  sprang 
to  their  feet,  he  roared  out  fiercely :  "  Stand  by ! 
Fire  !  Pour  it  into- them !  " 

The  Mary  Rose  was  almost  in  contact  with  the 
Spanish  ship,  when  a  perfect  tornado  of  fire  burst 
from  her  side.  Every  gun  in  her  broadside,  and  she 
was  a  forty-eight  gun  frigate,  was  discharged  point- 
blank  at  the  astonished  enemy.  Not  waiting  to  re 
load  the  guns,  the  crew  seized  the  small  arms  ready 
charged  to  hand,  and  as  they  slowly  swept  by  poured 
a  withering  fire  upon  the  Spaniard's  crowded  decks. 
Out  of  the  flame  and  smoke  the  Mary  Rose  burst 
upon  the  astounded  eyes  of  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  two  remaining  ships.  The  first  frigate  was  a 
wreck  on  the  water.  Some  of  the  pirate  guns  had 
been  depressed,  great  holes  had  been  opened  by  the 
shot,  the  masts  had  been  carried  away,  and  the  de 
voted  ship  was  sinking,  her  decks  covered  with  dead 
and  dying. 

"  We  wish  you  the  compliments  of  the  morning, 
senor,"  roared  Morgan,  facing  aft  toward  the  bat- 


113 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


tered   and   ruined   frigate.       "  How   like    you   our 
salute?" 

But  the  captain  of  the  Spanish  vessel  lay  dead 
upon  his  bloody  deck,  and  if  any  answered  the  jeer 
ing  taunt  it  was  drowned  by  the  laughter  and  cheer 
ing  of  the  English  crew.  They  had  eliminated  the 
first  ship  from  the  game.  They  had  diminished  their 
enemies  by  a  third,  and  full  of  confidence  they  swept 
down  upon  the  other  two. 


114 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   VI 

IN   WHICH    IS    RELATED    THE    STRANGE    EXPEDIENT    OF    THE 
CAPTAIN  AND  HOW  THEY  TOOK  THE  GREAT  GALLEON 


LTHOUGH  they  could  not  comprehend 
the  reason  for  the  vicious  attack  upon 
their  consort  by  a  ship  of  a  supposedly 
friendly  power,  it  was  evident  to  the 
Spaniards  in  the  two  re 
maining    ships    that    the 
English   frigate   was   ap 
proaching  them  with  the 
most  sinister  and  malev 
olent      purpose.          One 
glance  at  the  sinking  re 
mains    of    their    ruined 
and  battered  consort  es 
tablished  that  fact  in  the 
most  obtuse  mind.   Conse 


quently  the  exultant  men  on  the  Mary  Rose  could 
hear  the  shrill  notes  of  the  trumpeters  on  the  two 
other  ships  calling  their  men  to  arms. 

With  a  confidence  born  of  success,  however,  Mor- 
115 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


gan  resolutely  bore  down  upon  the  enemy.  Even  the 
dastards  in  his  crew  had  been  excited  by  the  ease  and 
success  of  the  first  treacherous  blow  and  plucked  up 
courage,  believing  that  their  captain's  invincible 
skill,  address,  and  seamanship  would  carry  them 
safely  through  the  next  encounter. 

The  Spanish  had  little  warning  after  all,  for  the 
breeze  was  rapidly  freshening,  and  in  what  seemed 
an  incredibly  short  time  the  English  frigate  was 
close  at  hand.  Though  they  worked  with  a  desperate 
energy  they  had  not  entirely  completed  those  prep 
arations  required  by  the  shock  of  battle.  As  usual, 
Morgan  was  determined  to  lose  no  time.  If  he  could 
have  thrown  his  vessel  upon  them  out  of  the  fire  and 
smoke  of  the  first  broadside  he  would  have  gained 
the  victory  with  scarcely  less  difficulty  than  he  had 
seized  the  first  advantage,  but  that  was  not  to  be,  and 
it  was  with  considerable  anxiety  that  he  surveyed  the 
crowded  decks  of  the  two  remaining  ships. 

He  had  no  fear  of  the  armament  of  either  one, 
but  if  those  Spanish  soldiers  ever  got  a  footing  upon 
his  own  deck  it  was  probable  they  could  not  be  dis 
lodged  without  a  tremendous  sacrifice  of  life;  and  as 
he  gazed  over  his  motley  crew  he  even  questioned 
their  ability  to  contend  successfully  with  such  a  mass 
of  veterans.  He  had  hoped  that  the  remaining 
frigate  would  detach  herself  from  the  galleon,  in 

116 


BUCCANEER 


which  event  the  superior  handiness  and  mobility  of 
his  own  ship,  to  say  nothing  of  his  probable  advant 
age  in  the  way  in  which  his  batteries  would  be 
fought,  would  enable  him  to  dispose  of  her  without 
too  much  difficulty.  Then  he  could  with  ease  place 
the  huge  and  unwieldy  galleon  at  his  mercy.  But 
the  two  Spanish  ships  stuck  close  together,  too  close 
indeed,  Morgan  thought,  for  their  own  safety.  They 
were  both  on  the  wind  with  their  larboard  tacks 
aboard,  the  frigate  slightly  ahead  of  and  to  windward 
of  the  galleon,  on  the  side,  that  is,  whence  the  Mary 
Rose  was  approaching.  So  far  as  he  could  divine  it, 
the  Spanish  plan,  if  they  had  formulated  any  in  their 
hurry,  appeared  to  be  for  the  frigate  to  engage  the 
Mary  Rose,  and  while  she  had  the  latter  ship  under 
her  battery,  the  galleon  would  tack  across  the 
English  vessel's  bows,  or  stern  as  might  be,  rake  her, 
get  her  between  the  two  ships,  run  her  aboard,  and 
thus  effect  her  ruin.  The  plan  was  simple,  prac 
ticable,  and  promised  easy  success,  provided  the  En 
glishman  did  what  was  expected  of  him. 

Morgan  was  not  to  be  caught  napping  that  way. 
As  he  rushed  down  upon  them  there  came  into  his 
head  one  of  the  most  daring  ideas  that  has  ever 
flashed  across  a  seaman's  brain.  Hastily  summoning 
Braziliano  he  bade  him  take  a  dozen  of  his  men, 
descend,  to  the  after  magazine,  procure  two  or  three 

117 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


barrels  of  powder  from  the  gunner,  and  stow  them  in 
the  cabin  under  the  poop-deck.  He  charged  him  to 
do  it  as  quietly  as  possible  and  take  only  men  for  the 
purpose  upon  whom  he  could  depend.  While  this 
was  being  done  young  Teach  was  also  summoned 
from  the  forecastle,  his  place  being  taken  by  old 
Velsers,  whose  division  in  the  battery  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  Raveneau.  There  was  a 
whispered  colloquy  between  the  chieftain  and  his 
young  subordinate,  after  which  the  latter  nodded  his 
head,  ran  below,  and  concealed  himself  in  one  of  the 
staterooms  under  the  quarter-deck.  In  a  little  space 
the  Portuguese  reappeared  with  his  men  and  an 
nounced  that  they  had  completed  their  task;  where 
upon  they  were  directed  to  return  to  their  stations. 

Meanwhile  the  crew  had  been  recharging  the  bat 
tery  and  reloading  the  small  arms.  Morgan  ad 
dressed  to  them  a  few  words  of  hearty  approval 
of  their  previous  actions  and  predicted  an  easy  vic 
tory  over  the  two  ships.  The  Spanish  captain  nat 
urally  supposed — and  indeed  the  courses  upon  which 
the  three  ships  were  sailing  if  persisted  in  would  have 
brought  about  the  result — that  the  Mary  Rose  would 
pass  along  his  larboard  side,  and  the  two  vessels 
would  engage  in  the  formal  manner  of  the  period, 
yard-arm  to  yard-arm,  until  the  galleon  could  get 
into  action  and  so  settle  it  in  the  purposed  way.  He 

118 


BUCCANEER 


intended,  of  course,  if  it  could  be  brought  about,  to 
throw  the  masses  of  soldiers  he  was  transporting 
home  upon  the  English  decks,  and  carry  the  frigate 
by  boarding. 

Again  Morgan  put  Hornigold  in  charge  of  the 
manoeuvering  of  the  ship,  and  again  that  old  worthy 
chose  to  handle  the  spokes  himself.  There  was  a 
brief  conversation  between  them,  and  then  the  Eng 
lish  captain  ran  forward  on  the  forecastle.  The  ships 
were  very  near  now.  In  a  moment  or  two  they  would 
pass  each  other  in  parallel  courses,  though  in  opposite 
direction,  and  their  broadsides  would  bear;  but  when 
the  Mary  Rose  was  about  a  cable's  length  from  the 
Spanish  frigate  something  happened. 

The  astonished  Don  heard  a  sharp  command  ring 
out  from  the  approaching  English  ship,  after  which 
she  made  a  wide  sweep  and  came  driving  straight  at 
him  at  a  furious  speed.  The  English  captain  in 
tended  to  run  him  down !  Here  was  to  be  no  passage 
along  his  broadside.  The  other  was  upon  him !  The 
cutwater  of  the  onrushing  ship  loomed  up  before 
him  tremendously.  Instantly  all  was  confusion  on 
the  Spanish  ship !  The  steersman  lost  his  head,  and 
without  orders  put  his  helm  up  sharply;  some  one  cut 
the  sheet  of  the  after-sail  on  the  huge  lateen  yard, 
and  the  frigate  went  whirling  around  on  her  heel  like 


119 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 

— — — — ^^^^— — — — — — — ^— ^___ 

a  top,  in  a  violent  and  fatal,  as  well  as  vain,  effort  to 
get  out  of  the  road. 

It  was  a  most  foolish  manoeuvre,  for  close  at  hand 
on  the  lee  side  of  her  the  galleon  came  lumbering 
along.  Her  captain,  too,  had  seen  the  peril,  and  had 
elected  to  meet  it  by  tacking  under  his  consort's 
stern.  But  he  was  too  near,  and  the  other  ship  fell 
off  and  was  swept  to  leeward  too  rapidly.  His  own 
ship,  cumbersome  and  unwieldy,  as  they  always  were, 
was  slow  in  answering  the  helm.  The  frigate  and 
galleon  came  together  with  a  terrific  crash.  The 
shock  carried  away  the  foretopmast  of  the  frigate, 
which  fell  across  the  head  yards  of  the  galleon.  The 
two  ships  were  instantly  locked  together.  They 
swung  drifting  and  helpless  in  the  tossing  waters. 

Morgan  had  counted  upon  this  very  catastrophe. 
A  twist  of  the  helm,  a  touch  of  the  braces,  and  the 
prow  of  the  Mary  Rose  swung  to  windward.  As  her 
batteries  bore  she  hurled  their  messengers  of  death 
into  the  crowded  masses  on  the  Spanish  ships.  Al 
though  dismayed  by  the  collision,  the  gunners  on  the 
frigate  made  a  spirited  reply  with  a  discharge  which 
at  such  close  range  did  much  execution. 

Unfortunately  for  her,  the  Mary  Rose  had  rushed 
so  close  to  the  two  entangled  ships  that  it  was  im 
possible  for  her  to  escape  hitting  them.  The  English 
captain  would  have  given  anything  if  he  could  have 

120 


BUCCANEER 


gone  free  of  the  mass,  for  he  could  have  passed  under 
the  stern  of  the  two  helpless  ships,  raked  them,  and 
probably  would  have  had  them  at  his  mercy ;  but  his 
dash  at  them  had  been  an  earnest  one,  and  in  order 
to  carry  out  his  plan  successfully  he  had  been  forced 
to  throw  his  ship  right  upon  them.  Therefore, 
though  the  helm  was  shifted  and  the  braces  hauled 
in  an  effort  to  get  clear,  and  though  the  ship  under 
Morgan's  conning  and  Hornigold's  steering  was 
handled  as  few  ships  have  ever  been  handled,  and 
though  it  was  one  of  the  speediest  and  most  weatherly 
of  vessels,  they  could  not  entirely  swing  her  clear. 
The  stern  of  the  frigate  crashed  against  the  stern  of 
the  nearest  Spanish  ship  drifting  frantically  to  lee 
ward. 

The  Spanish  captain,  mortified  and  humiliated  be 
yond  expression  by  the  mishap,  instantly  realized 
that  this  contact  presented  them  with  a  possibility  of 
retrieving  themselves.  Before  the  ships  could  be 
separated,  grappling  irons  were  thrown,  and  in  a 
second  the  three  were  locked  in  a  close  embrace. 
Morgan  had  anticipated  this  situation  also,  although 
he  had  hoped  to  avoid  it,  and  had  prepared  for  it. 
As  the  two  ships  became  fast  the  high  poop  and  rail 
of  the  Spaniard  were  black  with  iron-capped  men. 
They  swarmed  over  on  the  lower  poop  and  quarter 
deck  of  the  Mary  Rose  in  a  dense  mass.  Fortunately, 

121 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  small  arms  on  both  sides  had  been  discharged  a 
moment  before  and  there  had  been  no  time  to  reload. 
The  remainder  of  the  engagement  to  all  intents  and 
purposes  would  be  fought  with  the  cold  steel. 

Morgan  had  gained  an  advantage  in  throwing  the 
two  ships  into  collision,  but  he  appeared  to  have  lost 
it  again  because  he  had  been  unable  to  clear  the 
wrecks  himself.  The  advantage  was  now  with  the 
Spaniards,  whose  force  outnumbered  his  own  two  or 
three  to  one.  Surprising  as  it  was  to  the  old  buc 
caneers  and  the  bolder  spirits  among  his  crew,  whose 
blood  was  up  sufficiently  to  enable  them  to  long  for 
the  onset,  Morgan  had  run  to  the  waist  of  the  ship 
when  he  saw  the  inevitable  collision  and  had  called 
all  hands  from  the  poop  and  quarter.  The  Mary 
Rose  was  provided  with  an  elevated  quarter-deck  and 
above  that  a  high  poop.  Massing  his  men  in  the 
gangways  just  forward  of  the  mainmast  and  on  the 
forecastle  itself,  with  the  hardiest  spirits  in  the  front 
line  and  Morgan  himself  in  advance  of  all  sword  in 
hand,  the  two  parties  contemplated  each  other  for  a 
little  space  before  joining  in  the  onset. 

The  poop  and  quarter-deck  were  crowded  so  thick 
with  Spanish  soldiers  and  sailors  that  room  could 
scarcely  be  found  for  the  increasing  procession,  for, 
anxious  to  be  in  at  the  death,  the  men  of  the  galleon 
clinging  to  the  frigate  ran  across  and  joined  their 

122 


BUCCANEER 


comrades.  Here  were  trained  and  veteran  soldiers  ir 
overwhelming  numbers,  with  the  advantage  of  posi 
tion  in  that  they  fought  from  above  down,  to  oppose 
which  Morgan  had  his  motley  crew  behind  him. 

"  Yield,  you  dastardly  villain !  "  shouted  the  cap 
tain  of  the  Spanish  frigate,  who  was  in  the  fore  of 
his  men. 

"  Shall  I  have  good  quarter  ?  "  cried  Morgan. 

A  low  growl  ran  through  the  ranks  of  the  buc 
caneers  at  this  question.  Yet  the  rapscallions  among 
the  crew  back  of  him  instantly  took  up  the  cry. 

"  Quarter  !  Quarter  !  We  surrender  !  We 
strike  !  For  heaven's  sake — 

"  Silence !  "  roared  Morgan — an  order  which  was 
enforced  by  the  officers  and'  veterans  by  fierce  blows 
with  pistol  butts,  hilts  of  swords,  and  even  naked 
fists.  "  I  would  hear  the  answer  of  the  Spanish  cap 
tain." 

"  We  give  no  quarter  to  pirates  and  murderers/' 
the  other  shouted. 

"  That's  what  I  thought,"  said  Morgan  triumph 
antly,  and  as  he  spoke  he  drew  from  his  pocket  a 
silver  whistle  like  a  boatswain's  call.  He  blew  it 
shrilly  before  the  wondering  men. 

At  that  instant  Teach,  followed  by  the  few  men 
who  had  remained  below  in  the  powder  division, 


123 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


came  running  up  to  Morgan  from  the  hatchway  be 
tween  the  two  forces. 

"  Is't  done  ?  "  cried  the  captain. 

"  Ay,  sir.     In  another — 

"  Forward,  gentlemen !  "  shouted  the  Spanish  cap 
tain,  dropping  from  the  quarter-deck  to  the  main- 
deck.  "  God  and  St.  Jago  !  Have  at  them  !  " 

Before  he  had  taken  two  steps  the  terrific  roar  of 
a  def  eaning  explosion  came  to  the  startled  buccaneers 
out  of  the  blast  of  flame  and  smoke,  in  the  midst  of 
which  could  be  heard  shrieks  and  groans  of  the  most 
terrible  anguish.  Teach  had  connected  the  powder 
with  the  fuse,  and  when  he  had  heard  the  sound  of 
Morgan's  whistle,  the  agreed  signal,  he  had  ignited 
it  and  blown  up  the  stern  of  the  frigate. 

The  Spaniards  were  hurled  in  every  direction.  So 
powerful  was  the  concussion  that  the  front  ranks  of 
the  buccaneers  were  also  thrown  down  by  it.  Mor 
gan  happened  to  fall  by  the  side  of  the  Spanish  cap 
tain,  and  the  latter,  though  badly  wounded,  with 
determined  and  heroic  valor  raised  himself  on  his 
arm  and  strove  to  kill  the  buccaneer.  But  the  faith 
ful  Carib,  who  had  reserved  one  charged  pistol  by  his 
master's  command  for  such  an  emergency,  shot  him 
dead. 

Morgan  struggled  to  his  feet  and  looked  at  the 
scene.  Some  of  his  men  did  not  rise  with  the  others, 

124 


BUCCANEER 


for  they  had  been  killed  by  the  falling  splinters  and 
bits  of  iron.  The  whole  stern  of  the  Mary  Rose  was 
gone.  There  wasn't  a  Spaniard  left  before  them. 
A  few  figures  shrieking  vainly  for  help,  clutching  at 
floating  pieces  of  timber,  might  be  seen  struggling  in 
the  sea.  The  Spanish  frigate  had  a  great  hole  in  the 
port  side  of  her  after-works.  She  was  on  fire.  The 
three  ships  were  rocking  as  if  in  a  hurricane. 

Panic  filled  the  minds  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
buccaneers  at  this  tremendous  catastrophe.  Had 
Morgan  to  save  himself  ruined  his  own  ship  ?  They 
were  appalled  by  the  terrific  expedient  of  their  cap 
tain.  Wild  cries  and  imprecations  burst  forth. 

"  The  ship  is  sinking !  " 

"  We  are  lost !  " 

"  Silence !  "  shouted  Morgan,  again  and  again. 
"  The  ship  is  sinking,  but  our  ship  is  there.  Let 
those  who  love  life  follow  me." 

He  sprang  at  the  burning  rail  of  the  Spanish 
frigate.  Black  Dog  was  at  his  heels,  Ben  Hornigold 
followed  hard  upon,  Teach  was  on  the  other  side. 
From  the  waist  Raveneau  and  the  Brazilian  strove  to 
inspire  the  men.  Old  Velsers  from  the  forecastle 
drove  them  forward  as  quickly  as  he  could.  Pres 
ently  they  recovered  their  courage  in  some  measure, 
for  the  fighting  force  of  the  enemy  had  disappeared. 
They  had  lost  a  ship,  but  there  were  two  other  ships 

125 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


before  them.  They  swarmed  over  the  rail  with 
cheers  and  cries.  There  was  little  or  no  resistance. 
The  men  of  the  frigate  were  stunned  into  helpless 
ness  by  the  explosion,  although  the  captain  of  the 
galleon  rallied  a  few  men  and  fought  until  they  were 
all  cut  down,  and  the  two  ships  were  taken  by  storm. 

They  had  scarcely  gained  the  deck  of  the  galleon 
before  the  remains  of  the  Mary  Rose  sank  beneath 
the  sea,  the  wounded  upon  the  decks  vainly  crying 
for  succor. 

By  this  time  the  weather  side  of  the  remaining 
Spanish  ship  was  a  mass  of  flame  and  there  was  im 
minent  danger  that  the  fire  would  be  communicated 
to  the  galleon.  Giving  his  men  time  for  nothing, 
Morgan  set  to  work  furiously  to  extricate  himself. 
Axes  and  hatchets  were  plied  and  all  the  skill  and 
seamanship  of  the  conquerors  brought  into  play. 
Finally  they  succeeded  in  getting  clear  and  working 
away  from  the  burning  frigate.  Morgan  at  once  put 
the  galleon  before  the  wind,  and  when  he  had  drawn 
away  a  short  distance,  hove  to  the  ship  to  take  ac 
count  of  the  damage  before  determining  his  future 
course. 

Far  back  on  the  ocean  and  low  in  the  water  drifted 
the  sinking  remains  of  the  first  Spanish  frigate. 
Near  at  hand  was  the  hulk  of  the  second  ship,  now  a 
blazing  furnace.  The  first  was  filled  with  living 

126 


BUCCANEER 


men,  many  of  them  desperately  wounded.  No  atten 
tion  was  paid  to  them  by  the  buccaneers.  They  cried 
for  mercy  unheeded.  Anyway  their  suspense  would 
soon  be  over.'  Indeed,  the  first  ship  sank  and  the 
second  blew  up  with  a  fearful  explosion  a  short  time 
after  they  got  away.  A  brief  inspection  showed  that 
the  galleon  had  suffered  little  or  no  damage  that 
could  not  be  repaired  easily  at  sea.  Taking  account 
of  his  men,  Morgan  found  that  about  twenty  were 
missing.  Taking  no  care  for  them  nor  for  the  two 
ships  he  had  fought  so  splendidly,  pirate  though  he 
was,  he  clapped  sail  on  the  galleon  and  bore  away  to 
the  southward. 


127 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   VII 

WHEREIN     BARTHOLOMEW    SAWKINS    MUTINIED    AGAINST    HIS 
CAPTAIN  AND  WHAT  BEFELL  HIM  ON  THAT  ACCOUNT 

HE  Almirante  Recalde,  for  such  was  the 
name  of  the  galleon,  was  easily  and 
speedily  repaired  by  the  skilled  seamen 
of  the  Mary  Rose  under  such  leadership 
and  direction  as  the  ex 
perience  of  Morgan  and 
the  officers  afforded.  By 
the  beginning  of  the  first 
dog-watch  even  a  critical 
inspection  would  scarcely 
have  shown  that  she  had 
been  in  action.  With  the 
wise  forethought  of  a 
seaman,  Morgan  had  sub 
ordinated  every  other 
duty  to  the  task  of  making  the  vessel  fit  for  any 
danger  of  the  sea,  and  he  had  deferred  any  careful 
examination  of  her  cargo  until  everything  had  been 
put  shipshape  again;  although  by  his  hurried  ques- 

128 


BUCCANEER 


tioiiing  of  the  surviving  officers  he  had  learned  that 
the  Almirante  Recalde  was  indeed  loaded  with  treas 
ure  of  Peru,  which  had  been  received  by  her  via  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama  for  transportation  to  Spain.  On 
board  her  were  several  priests  returning  to  Spain 
headed  by  one  Fra  Antonio  de  Las  Casas,  together 
with  a  band  of  nuns  under  the  direction  of  an  aged 
abbess,  Sister  Maria  Christina. 

In  the  indiscriminate  fury  of  the  assault  one  or 
two  of  the  priests  had  been  killed,  but  so  soon  as  the 
ship  had  been  fully  taken  possession  of  the  lives  of 
the  surviving  clerics  and  the  lives  of  the  good  sisters 
had  been  spared  by  Morgan's  express  command. 
These  unfortunate  women  had  been  forced  into  the 
great  cabin,  where  they  were  guarded  by  men  in 
whom  confidence  could  be  placed.  The  priests  were 
allowed  to  minister  to  their  dying  compatriots  so  long 
as  they  kept  out  of  the  way  of  the  sailors.  No  feeling 
of  pity  or  compassion  induced  Morgan  to  withhold 
the  women  from  his  crew.  He  was  a  man  of  prudent 
foresight  and  he  preserved  them  for  a  purpose,  a 
purpose  in  which  the  priests  were  included. 

In  the  hold  of  the  ship  nearly  one  hundred  and 
fifty  wretched  prisoners  were  discovered.  They  were 
the  crew  of  the  buccaneer  ship  Daring,  which  had 
been  commanded  by  a  famous  adventurer  named 
Eingrose,  who  had  been  captured  by  a  Spanish  squad- 

129 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


ron  after  a  desperate  defense  off  the  port  of  Callao, 
Peru.    They  were  being  transported  to  Spain,  where 
they  had  expected  summary  punishment  for  their 
iniquities.     No  attention  whatever  had  been  paid  to 
their  protests  that  they  were  Englishmen,  and  indeed 
the  statement  was  hardly  true  for  at  least  half  of 
them  belonged  to  other  nations.    In  the  long  passage 
from  Callao  to  the  Isthmus  and  thence  through  the 
Caribbean    they    had    been    kept    rigorously    under 
hatches.     Close  confinement  for  many  days  and  en 
forced  subsistence  upon  a  scanty  and  inadequate  diet 
had  caused  many  to  die  and  impaired  the  health  of 
the  survivors.     When  the  hatch  covers  were  opened, 
the  chains  unshackled  and  the  miserable  wretches 
brought  on  deck,  their  condition  moved  even  some  of 
the  buccaneers  to  pity.     The  galleon  was  generously 
provided  for  her  long  cruise  across  the  ocean,  and  the 
released  prisoners,  by  Morgan's  orders,  were  liberally 
treated.     No  work  was  required  of  them ;  they  were 
allowed  to  wander  about  the  decks  at  pleasure,  re 
freshed  by  the  open  air,  the  first  good  meal  they  had 
enjoyed  in  several  months,  and  by  a  generous  allow 
ance  of  spirits.      As  soon  as  they  learned  the  object 
of  the  cruise,  without  exception  they  indicated  their 
desire  to  place  themselves  under  the  command  of 
Morgan.     Ringrose,  their  captain,  had  been  killed, 
and  they  were  without  a  leader,  which  was  fortunate 

130 


BUCCANEER 


in  that  it  avoided  the  complications  of  divided  com 
mand.  Fortunate,  that  is,  for  Ringrose,  for  Morgan 
would  have  brooked  no  rival  on  such  an  expedition. 

As  soon  as  it  could  be  done,  a  more  careful  inspec 
tion  and  calculation  satisfied  the  buccaneer  of  the  im 
mense  value  of  his  prize.  The  lading  of  the  galleon, 
consisting  principally  of  silver  bullion,  was  probably 
worth  not  far  from  a  million  Spanish  dollars — pieces 
of  eight !  This  divided  among  the  one  hundred  and 
eighty  survivors  of  the  original  crew  meant  affluence 
for  even  the  meanest  cabin  boy.  It  was  wealth  such 
as  they  had  not  even  dreamed  of.  It  was  a  prize  the 
value  of  which  had  scarcely  ever  been  paralleled. 

They  were  assembled  forward  of  the  quarter-deck 
when  the  announcement  was  made.  When  they 
understood  the  news  the  men  became  drunk  with  joy. 
It  would  seem  as  if  they  had  been  suddenly  stricken 
mad.  Some  of  them  stared  in  paralyzed  silence, 
others  broke  into  frantic  cheers  and  yells,  some  reeled 
and  shuddered  like  drunken  men.  The  one  person 
who  preserved  his  imperturbable  calmness  was  Mor 
gan  himself.  The  gratitude  of  these  men  toward 
him  was  overwhelming.  Even  those  who  had  good 
cause  to  hate  him  forgot  for  the  time  being  their 
animosity — all  except  Hornigold,  whose  hatred  was 
beyond  all  price.  Under  his  leadership  they  had 
achieved  such  a  triumph  as  had  scarcely  ever  befallen 

131 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


them  in  the  palmiest  days  of  their  career,  and  with 
Httle  or  no  loss  they  had  been  put  in  possession  of  a 
prodigious  treasure.  They  crowded  about  him  pres 
ently  with  enthusiastic  cheers  of  affection  and  extrav 
agant  vows  of  loving  service.  All,  that  is,  except 
Hornigold,  whose  sense  of  injury,  whose  thirst  for 
vengeance,  was  so  deep  that  all  the  treasure  of  Po- 
tosi  itself  would  not  have  abated  one  jot  or  one  tittle 
of  it. 

The  general  joy,  however,  was  not  shared  by  the 
rescued  buccaneers.  Although  they  had  but  a  few 
hours  before  despaired  of  life  in  the  loathsome  depths 
of  the  vile  hold,  and  they  had  been  properly  grateful 
for  the  sudden  and  unexpected  release  which  had 
given  them  their  liberty  and  saved  them  from  the 
gibbet,  yet  it  was  not  in  any  human  man,  especially 
a  buccaneer,  to  view  with  equanimity  the  distribution 
— or  the  proposed  distribution — of  so  vast  a  treasure 
and  feel  that  he  could  not  share  in  it.  The  fresh  air 
and  the  food  and  drink  had  already  done  much  for 
those  hardy  ruffians.  They  were  beginning  to  regain, 
if  not  all  their  strength,  at  least  some  of  their  courage 
and  assurance.  They  congregated  in  little  groups 
here  and  there  among  Morgan's  original  men  and 
stared  with  lowering  brows  and  flushed  faces  at  the 
frantic  revel  in  which  they  could  not  participate. 
Not  even  the  cask  of  rum  which  Morgan  ordered 

132 


BUCCANEER 


broached  to  celebrate  the  capture,  and  of  which  all 
hands  partook  with  indiscriminate  voracity,  could 
bring  joy  to  their  hearts.  After  matters  had  quieted 
down  somewhat — and  during  this  time  the  galleon 
had  been  mainly  left  to  navigate  herself — Morgan 
deemed  it  a  suitable  occasion  to  announce  his  ultimate 
designs  to  the  men. 

"  Gentlemen,  shipmates,  and  bold  hearts  all,"  he 
cried,  waving  his  hand  for  silence,  "  we  have  cap 
tured  the  richest  prize  probably  that  floats  on  the 
ocean.  There  are  pieces  of  eight  and  silver  bullion 
enough  beneath  the  hatches,  as  I  have  told  you,  to 
make  us  rich  for  life,  to  say  nothing  of  the  gold, 
jewels,  spices,  and  whatnot,  besides — 

He  was  interrupted  by  another  yell  of  apprecia 
tion. 

"  But,  men,"  he  continued,  "  I  hardly  know  what 
to  do  with  it." 

"  Give  it  to  us,"  roared  a  voice,  which  was  greeted 
with  uproarious  laughter,  "  we'll  make  away  with  it." 

Morgan  marked  down  with  his  eye  the  man  who 
had  spoken  and  went  on. 

"  The  ports  of  His  Majesty,  the  King  of  England, 
will  be  closed  to  us  so  soon  as  our  capture  of  the  Mary 
Rose  is  noted.  England  is  at  peace  with  the  world. 
There  is  not  a  French  or  Spanish  port  that  would  give 
us  a  haven.  If  we  appeared  anywhere  in  European 

133 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


waters  with  this  galleon  we  would  be  taken,  and 
hanged.  Now,  what's  to  be  done  ?  " 

"  Run  the  ship  ashore  on  the  New  England  coast," 
cried  the  man  who  had  spoken  before.  "  Divide  the 
treasure.  Burn  the  ship  and  scatter.  Let  every  man 
look  to  his  own  share  and  his  own  neck." 

"A  plan,  apian!" 

"  Ay,  that'll  be  the  way  of  it !  " 

"  Sawkins  is  right !  " 

"  To  the  New  England  shore  !  Ben  Hornigold  will 
pilot  the  ship !  "  burst  in  confused  clamor  from  the 
crew  to  whom  the  plan  appealed. 

"  By  heaven,  no  !  "  shouted  Morgan.  "  That's  well 
enough  for  you,  not  for  me.  I'm  a  marked  man. 
You  can  disappear.  I  should  be  taken,  and  Horni 
gold  and  Raveneau  and  the  rest.  It  won't  do.  We 
must  stay  by  the  ship." 

"And  what  then?" 

"  Keep  to  the  original  plan.  We'll  sail  this  ship 
down  to  the  Spanish  Main  and  -capture  a  town,  divide 
our  treasure,  make  our  way  overland  to  the  Pacific, 
where  we'll  find  another  ship,  and  then  away  to  the 
South  Seas !  Great  as  is  our  booty,  there  is  still  more 
to  be  had  there  for  the  taking.  We'll  be  free  to  go 
where  we  please  with  the  whole  South  American  coast 
at  hand.  There  are  islands,  tropic  islands,  there, 
where  it's  always  summer.  They  are  ours  for  the 

134 


BUCCANEER 


choosing.  We  can  establish  ourselves  there.  We'll 
found  a  community,  with  every  man  a  law  for  him 
self.  We'll " 

But  the  recital  of  this  Utopian  dream  was  rudely 
interrupted. 

"  'Nay,  Master/7  cried  Sawkins,  who  had  done 
most  of  the  talking  from  among  the  crew,  "  we  go 
no  farther." 

He  was  confident  that  he  had  the  backing  of  the 
men,  and  in  that  confidence  grew  bold  with  reckless 
temerity.  Flushed  by  the  victory  of  the  morning, 
the  rum  he  had  imbibed,  intoxicated  by  the  thought 
of  the  treasure  which  was  to  be  shared,  the  man  went 
on  impudently: 

"  No,  Sir  Harry  Morgan,  we've  decided  to  follow 
our  latest  plan.  We'll  work  this  ship  up  to  the  New 
England  coast  and  wreck  her  there.  There  are  plenty 
of  spots  where  she  can  be  cast  away  safely  and  none 
to  know  it.  We'll  obey  you  there  and  no  further. 
We've  got  enough  treasure  under  hatches  to  satisfy 
any  reasonable  man.  We're  not  afeared  o'  the  King 
if  you  are." 

"  You  fool !  "  thundered  Morgan.  "  You  will  be 
hanged  as  soon  as  your  part  in  the  adventure  is 
known." 

"  And  who  is  to  make  it  known,  pray  ?  As  you 
said,  we  are  poor  ignorant  men.  It's  nothing  to  us  if 

135 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


you  arc  marked,  and  you,  and  you,"  he  continued, 
stepping  forward  and  pointing  successively  at  Mor 
gan  and  the  little  band  of  officers  who  surrounded 
him.  "  A  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush, 
we'd  have  you  understand,  and  we're  content  with 
what  we've  got.  We  don't  take  no  stock  in  them 
islands  of  yours.  We  can  get  all  the  women  we  want, 
and  of  our  own  kind  without  crossing  the  Isthmus. 
We  don't  want  no  further  cruisin'.  There's  no  need 
for  us  to  land  on  the  Spanish  Main.  We've  made  up 
our  minds  to  'bout  ship  and  bear  away  to  the  north 
ward.  Am  I  right,  mates  ?  " 

"  Ay,  ay,  right  you  are  !  "  roared  the  men  surging 
aft. 

'  You  mutinous  hound !  "  yelled  Morgan,  leaning 
forward  in  a  perfect  fury  of  rage,  and  his  passion  was 
something  appalling  to  look  upon. 

Hornigold  clutched  at  the  helm,  which  had  been 
deserted  by  the  seamen  detailed  to  it  during  the 
course  of  the  hot  debate.  The  old  man  cast  one  long, 
anxious  glance  to  windward  where  a  black  squall  was 
apparently  brewing.  But  he  said  nothing.  The  ar 
gument  was  between  Morgan  and  his  crew,  there  was 
no  need  for  him  to  interfere.  Teach,  Raveneau, 
Velsers,  and  the  officers  drew  their  pistols  and  bared 
their  swords,  but  most  of  the  crew  were  also  armed, 
and  if  it  came  to  a  trial  of  strength  the  cabin  gang 

136 


BUCCANEER 


was  so  overwhelmingly  outnumbered  that  it  would 
have  been  futile  to  inaugurate  a  contest. 

Morgan,  however,  was  frantic  with  rage.  To  be 
braved  by  a  member  of  his  crew,  to  have  his  plans 
balked  by  any  man,  and  to  be  openly  insulted  in  this 
manner!  He  did  not  hesitate  a  second.  He  rushed 
at  Master  Bartholomew  Sawkins,  and,  brave  man  as 
tha't  sailor  was,  he  fairly  quailed  before  the  terrific 
incarnation  of  passionate  fury  his  captain  presented. 
The  rest  of  the  crew  gave  back  before  the  furious 
onset  of  Sir  Henry. 

"  You  dog !  "  he  screamed,  and  before  the  other 
realized  his  intention  he  struck  him  a  fearful  blow 
in  the  face  with  his  naked  fist.  Always  a  man  of  un 
usual  strength,  his  rage  had  bestowed  upon  him  a 
Herculean  force.  He  seized  the  dazed  man  by  the 
throat  and  waist  belt  ere  he  fell  to  the  deck  from  the 
force  of  the  blow,  and  lifting  him  up  literally  pitched 
him  overboard.  Before  the  crew  had  recovered  from 
their  astonishment  and  terror  at  this  bold  action,  the 
buccaneer  officers  closed  behind  their  captain,  each 
covering  the  front  ranks  of  the  men  with  a  pistol.  At 
the  same  instant  the  other  men,  Kingrose's  crew, 
came  shoving  through  the  crowd,  snatching  such 
arms  as  they  could  in  the  passage,  although  most  of 
them  had  to  be  satisfied  with  belaying  pins. 

"  We're  with  you,  Captain  Morgan,"  cried  one  of 
137 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


their  number.  "  We've  had  no  treasure,  and  it  seems 
we're  not  to  have  a  share  in  this  either.  We've  been 
in  the  South  Seas/'  continued  the  speaker,  a  man 
named  L'Ollonois,  noted  for  his  cruelty,  rapacity,  and 
success,  "  and  the  captain  speaks  truly.  There  are 
all  that  can  delight  brave  men  and  a  race  of  cowards 
to  defend  them.  What's  this  treasure  ?  It  is  great, 
but  there  are  other  things  we  want — wine  and 
women !  " 

The  man  who  had  been  thrown  overboard  had 
shrieked  for  help  as  he  fell.  The  splash  he  had  made 
as  he  struck  the  water  had  been  followed  by  another. 
A  Spanish  priest  standing  by  the  rail  had  seized  a 
grating  and  thrown  it  to  the  man.  Morgan  took  in 
the  situation  in  a  glance. 

"  Who  threw  that  grating  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  I,  seiior,"  composedly  answered  the  priest,  who 
understood  English. 

Morgan  instantly  snatched  a  pistol  from  de  Lus- 
san's  hand  and  shot  the  man  dead. 

"  I  allow  no  one,"  he  shouted,  "  to  interfere  be 
tween  me  and  the  discipline  of  my  men !  You  speak 
well,  L'Ollonois.  And  for  you,  hounds !  "  he  roared, 
clubbing  the  smoking  pistol  and  stepping  toward  the 
huddled,  frightened  men,  "  get  back  to  your  duties 
unless  you  wish  instant  death  !  Scuttle  me,  if  I  don't 
blow  up  the  galleon  unless  you  immediately  obey! 

138 


Morgan  instantly  snatched  a  pistol  from  de  Lussan's  hand  and 
shot  the  man  dead. 


BUCCANEER 


Bear  a  hand  there!  If  you  hesitate —  Fire  on 
them !  "  he  cried  to  his  officers,  but  the  men  in  the 
front  did  not  linger.  They  broke  away  from  his  pres 
ence  so  vehemently  that  they  fell  over  one  another  in 
the  gangways. 

"  Don't  fire !  "  they  cried  in  terror.  "  We'll  go 
back  to  duty." 

Morgan  was  completely  master  of  the  situation. 

"  I  am  to  be  obeyed/'  he  cried,  "  implicitly,  with 
out  question,  without  hesitation !  " 

"Ay,  ay!" 

"We  will,  we  will!" 

"  That's  well.  Heave  that  carrion  overboard," 
kicking  the  body  of  the  priest.  "  Now  we'll  go  back 
and  pick  up  Sawkins,"  he  continued.  "  Ready  about, 
station  for  stays !  " 

"  Look  you,  Captain  Morgan,"  cried  Hornigold, 
pointing  to  leeward.  "  The  squall !  'Twill  be  soon 
on  us.  We'd  best  reduce  sail  and  run  for  it." 

"  Nay,"  said  Morgan,  "  I'll  allow  not  even  a  storm 
to  interfere  with  my  plans.  Flow  the  head  sheets 
there !  Hard  down  with  the  helm !  Aft,  here  some 
of  you,  and  man  the  quarter  boat.  I  said  I'd  pick 
him  up,  and  picked  up  he  shall  be,  in  spite  of  hell !  " 

The  ship,  like  all  Spanish  ships,  was  unhandy  and 
a  poor  sailor.  Morgan,  however,  got  all  out  of  her 
that  mortal  man  could  get.  With  nice  seamanship 

141 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


he  threw  her  up  into  the  wind,  hove  her  to,  and 
dropped  a  boat  overboard.  Teach  had  volunteered 
for  the  perilous  command  of  her  and  the  best  men  on 
the  ship  were  at  the  oars.  Sawkins  had  managed  to 
catch  the  grating  and  was  clinging  feebly  when  the 
boat  swept  down  upon  him.  They  dragged  him  aboard 
and  then  turned  to  the  ship.  The  sinister  squall  was 
rushing  down  upon  them  from  the  black  horizon  with 
terrific  velocity.  The  men  bent  their  backs  and 
strained  at  the  oars  as  never  before.  It  did  not  seem 
possible  that  they  could  beat  the  wind.  The  men  on 
the  ship  beseeched  Morgan  to  fill  away  and  abandon 
their  comrades. 

"  No  !  "  he  cried.  "  I  sent  them  there  and  I'll  wait 
for  them  if  I  sink  the  ship!  " 

Urged  by  young  Teach  to  exertion  superhuman, 
the  boat  actually  shot  under  the  quarter  of  the  gal 
leon  before  the  squall  broke.  The  tackles  were 
hooked  on  and  she  was  run  up  to  the  davits  with  all 
her  crew  aboard. 

"  Up  with  the  helm !  "  cried  Morgan  the  instant 
the  boat  was  alongside.  "  Swing  the  mainyard  and 
get  the  canvas  off  her.  Aloft,  topmen,  settle  away 
the  halliards !  Clew  down  !  Lively,  now  !  " 

And  as  the  ship  slowly  paid  off  and  gathered  away 
the  white  squall  broke  upon  them.  The  sea  was 
a-smother  with  mist  and  rain.  The  wind  whipped 

142 


BUCCANEER 


through  the  shrouds  and  rigging,  but  everything 
held.  Taking  a  great  bone  in  her  teeth  the  old  Al- 
mirante  Recalde  .heeled  far  over  to  leeward  and 
ripped  through  the  water  to  the  southward  at  such  a 
pace  as  she  had  never  made  before.  On  the  quarter 
deck  a  drenched,  shivering,  and  sobbing  figure  knelt 
at  Morgan's  feet  and  kissed  his  hand. 

"  Wilt  obey  me  in  the  future  ?'?  cried  the  captain 
to  the  repentant  man. 

e  i" 'Fore  Grod,  I  will,  sir,"  answered  Sawkins. 
-—"That's -well,"  said  the  old  buccaneer.     "Take 
him  forward,  men,  and  let  him  have  all  the  rum  he 
wants  to  take  off  the  chill  of  his  wetting." 

"  You  stood  by  me  that  time,  Sir  Henry,"  cried 
young  Teach,  who  had  been  told  of  Morgan's  refusal 
to  fill  away,  "  and,  by  heaven,  I'll  stand  by  you  in 
your  need !  " 

"  Good.  I'll  remember  that,"  answered  Morgan, 
glad  to  have  made  at  least  one  friend  among  all  he 
commanded. 

"  What's  our  course  now,  captain  ? "  asked  Horni- 
gold  as  soon  as  the  incident  was  over. 

"  Sou'west  by  west-half-west,"  answered  Morgan, 
who  had  taken  an  observation  that  noon,  glancing  in 
the  binnacle  as  he  spoke. 

"  And  that  will  fetch  us  where  ? "  asked  the  old 


143 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


man,  who  was  charged  with  the  duty  of  the  practical 
sailing  of  the  ship. 

"  To  La  Guayra  and  Venezuela." 

"  Oho !  "  said  the  old  boatswain,  "  St.  Jago  de 
Leon,  Caracas,  t'other  side  of  the  mountains  will  be 
our  prize  ?  " 

"  Ay,"  answered  Morgan.  "  'Tis  a  rich  place  and 
has  been  unpillaged  for  a  hundred  years." 

He  turned  on  his  heel  and  walked  away.  He 
vouchsafed  no  further  information  and  there  was  no 
way  for  Master  Ben  Hornigold  to  learn  that  the  ob 
ject  that  drew  Morgan  to  La  Guayra  and  St.  Jago 
was  not  plunder  but  the  Pearl  of  Caracas. 


144 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   VIII 

HOW    THEY    STROVE    TO    CLUB-HAUL    THE    GALLEON    AND 
FAILED  TO  SAVE  HER  ON  THE  COAST  OF  CARACAS 

WO  days  later  they  made  a  landfall  off 
the  terrific  coast  of  Caracas,  where  the 
tree-clad  mountains  soar  into  the  clouds 
abruptly  from  the  level  of  the  sea, 
where  the  surf  beats  without  intermission  even  in 
the  most  peaceful  weather  upon  the  narrow  strip  of 
white  sand  which  separates  the  blue  waters  of  the 
Caribbean  from  the  massive  cliffs  that  tower  above 
them. 

In  the  intervening  time  the  South  Sea  buccaneers 
had  picked  up  wonderfully.  These  men,  allured  by  the 
hope  of  further  plunder  under  a  captain  who  had  been 
so  signally  successful  in  the  past  and  in  the  present, 
constituted  a  most  formidable  auxiliary  to  Morgan's 
original  crew.  Indeed,  with  the  exception  of  the  old 
hands  they  were  the  best  of  the  lot.  L'Qllonois  had 
been  admitted  among  the  officers  on  a  suitable  foot 
ing,  and  there  was  little  or  no  friction  among  the 
crews.  They  were  getting  hammered  into  shape, 

145 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


too,  under  Morgan's  hard  drilling,  and  it  was  a 
vastly  more  dangerous  body  of  men  than  the 
drunken  gang  who  had  sailed  away  from  Jamaica. 
Though  not  the  equal  of  the  former  buccaneering 
bands  who  had  performed  in  their  nefarious  careers 
unheard  of  prodigies  of  valor  and  courage,  they  were 
still  not  to  be  despised.  Had  it  been  known  on  the 
Spanish  Main  that  such  a  body  was  afloat  there 
would  have  been  a  thrill  of  terror  throughout  the 
South  American  continent,  for  there  were  many  who 
could  remember  with  the  vividness  of  eye-witnesses 
and  participants  the  career  of  crime  and  horror  which 
the  old  buccaneers  had  inaugurated. 

Like  a  politic  captain,  Morgan  had  done  his  best 
to  get  the  men  whom  he  had  subdued  by  his  intrepid 
courage  and  consummate  address  into  good  humor. 
Rum  and  spirits  were  served  liberally,  work  was 
light,  in  fact  none  except  the  necessary  seaman's 
duties  were  required  of  the  men,  although  an  hour  or 
two  every  day  was  employed  in  hard  drill  with 
swords,  small  arms,  and  great  guns.  In  martial 
exercises  the  veterans  were  perfect,  and  they  assidu 
ously  endeavored  to  impart  their  knowledge  to  the 
rest. 

It  was  Morgan's  plan  to  run  boldly  into  La  Guayra 
under  the  Spanish  flag.  No  one  could  possibly  take 
the  Almirante  Recalde  for  anything  but  a  Spanish 

146 


BUCCANEER 


ship.  There  was  no  reason  for  suspecting  the  pres 
ence  of  an  enemy,  for  Spain  had  none  in  these  seas. 
If  there  were  other  ships  in  the  roadstead,  for  the 
harbor  of  La  Guayra  was  really  nothing  more  than 
an  open  road,  the  buccaneer  could  easily  dispose  of 
them  in  their  unprepared  condition.  Indeed,  Mor 
gan  rather  hoped  that  there  might  be  others,  for, 
after  he  captured  them,  he  would  have  a  greater 
force  of  guns  to  train  upon  the  forts  of  the  town, 
which  he  expected  to  take  without  much  difficulty, 
and  then  be  governed  in  his  manoeuvres  toward  Car 
acas  by  circumstances  as  they  arose. 

Two  days  after  the  capture  of  the  galleon,  then, 
with  the  wind  fresh  from  the  northeast,  on  a  gray, 
threatening,  stormy  morning,  she  was  running  to  the 
westward  along  the  shore.  A  few  hours  at  their 
present  speed  would  bring  them  opposite  La  Guayra, 
whose  location  at  the  foot  of  the  mighty  La  Silla  of 
Caracas  was  even  then  discernible.  Morgan  could  see 
that  there  were  two  or  three  other  vessels  opposite  the 
town  straining  at  their  anchors  in  the  heavy  sea. 
Every  preparation  for  action  had  been  made  in  good 
time  and  the  guns  had  been  loaded.  The  sea  lashings 
had  been  cast  off,  although  the  gun-tackles  were  care 
fully  secured,  for  the  wind  was  blowing  fresher  and 
the  sea  running  heavier  every  hour. 

The  men  were  armed  to  the  teeth.  There  hap- 
147 


SJR    HENRT    MORGAN 


pened  to  be  a  goodly  supply  of  arms  on  the  Spanish 
ship  in  addition  to  those  the  buccaneers  had  brought 
with  them,  which  were  all  distributed.  Many  a  steel 
cap  destined  for  some  proud  Spanish  hidalgo's  head 
now  covered  the  cranium  of  some  rude  ruffian  whom 
the  former  would  have  despised  as  beneath  his  feet. 

Everything  was  propitious  for  their  enterprise  but 
the  weather.  The  veterans  who  were  familiar  with 
local  conditions  in  the  Caribbean  studied  the  north 
eastern  skies  with  gloomy  dissatisfaction.  The  wind 
was  blowing  dead  inshore,  and  as  the  struck  bells  de 
noted  the  passing  hours,  with  each  half -hourly  period 
it  grew  appreciably  stronger.  If  it  continued  to 
blow,  or  if,  as  it  was  almost  certain,  the  strength  of 
the  wind  increased,  it  would  be  impossible  without 
jeopardizing  the  ship  to  come  to  anchor  in  the  exposed 
.  roadstead.  They  would  have  to  run  for  it.  Nay, 
more,  they  would  have  to  beat  out  to  sea  against  it, 
for  the  coast-line  beyond  La  Guayra  turned  rapidly 
to  the  northward. 

Morgan  was  a  bold  and  skilful  mariner,  and  he 
held  his  course  parallel  to  the  land  much  longer  than 
was  prudent.  He  was  loath,  indeed,  to  abandon  even 
temporarily  a  design  upon  which  he  had  determined, 
and  as  he  had  rapidly  run  down  his  southing  in  this 
brief  cruise  hie,  determination  had  been  quickened  by 
the  thought  of  his  growing  nearness  to  the  Pearl  of 

148 


E UCCANEER 


Caracas,  until  for  the  moment  love — or  what  he 
called  love — had  almost  made  him  forget  the  treasure 
in  the  ship  beneath  his  feet.  For  the  Pearl  of  Car 
acas  was  a  woman. 

Mercedes  de   Lara,   daughter  of  the   Viceroy  of 
Venezuela,  on  her  way  home  from  Spain  where  she 
had  been  at  school,  to  join  her  father,  the  Count  Al- 
varo  de  Lara  in  the  Vice-regal  Palace  at  St.  Jago  de 
Leon,  sometimes  called  the  City  of  Caracas,  in  the 
fair  valley  on  the  farther  side  of  those  towering  tree- 
clad  mountains — the  Cordilleras  of  the  shore — had 
touched  at  Jamaica.     There  she  had  been  received 
with  due  honor,  as  became  the  daughter  of  so  prom 
inent  a  personage,  by  the    Vice-Governor    and  his 
wretched  wife.     Morgan's  heart  had  been  inflamed 
by  the  dark,  passionate  beauty  of  the  Spanish  maiden. 
It  was  only  by  a  severe  restraint  enjoined  upon  him 
self  by  his  position  that  he  had  refrained  from  abus 
ing  the  hospitality  he  extended,  by  seizing  her  in  the 
old  buccaneer  fashion.    The  impression  she  had  made 
upon  him  had  been  lasting,  and  when  he  found  him 
self  alone,  an  outlaw,  all  his  dreams  of  the  future 
centered  about  his  woman. 

He  would  carry  out  the  plans  which  he  had  out 
lined  to  his  men,  but  the  Pearl  of  Caracas,  for  so 
Donna  Mercedes  was  called,  must  accompany  him  to 
the  South  Seas  to  be  the  Island  Queen  of  that  Buc- 

149 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


caneer  Empire  of  which  he  was  to  be  the  founder. 
That  Donna  Mercedes  might  object  to  this  proposi 
tion;  that  she  might  love  another  man,  might  even 
be  married  by  this  time,  counted  for  nothing  in  Mor 
gan's  plans.  He  had  taken  what  he  wanted  by  dint 
of  his  iron  will  and  the  strength  of  his  right  arm  in 
the  past  and  he  should  continue  the  process  in  the 
future.  If  the  hand  of  man  could  not  turn  him,  cer 
tainly  the  appeal  of  woman  would  avail  nothing. 

Consequently  he  was  most  reluctant  that  morning, 
for  his  passion  had  increased  with  each  o'er-run 
league  of  sea,  to  bear  away  from  La  Guayra,  which 
was  the  port  of  entry  for  Caracas ;  but  even  his  ar 
dent  spirit  was  at  last  convinced  of  the  necessity.  It 
was  blowing  a  gale  now  and  they  were  so  near  the 
shore,  although  some  distance  to  the  eastward  of  the 
town,  that  they  could  see  the  surf  breaking  with 
tremendous  force  upon  the  strip  of  sand.  The 
officers  and  older  men  had  observed  the  course  of  the 
ship  with  growing  concern,  but  no  one  had  ventured 
to  remonstrate  with  Morgan  until  old  Ben  Hornigold 
as  a  privileged  character  finally  summoned  his  cour 
age  and  approached  him. 

"  Mark  yon  shore,  Captain  Morgan,"  he  said,  and 
when  he  made  up  his  mind  he  spoke  boldly.  "  The 
wind  freshens.  We're  frightfully  near.  Should  it 


150 


BUCCANEER 


come  on  to  blow  we  could  not  save  the  ship.  You 
know  how  unseamanly  these  Spanish  hulks  are." 

"Right  you  are,  Hornigold,"  answered  Morgan, 
yet  frowning  heavily.  "  Curse  this  wind  !  We  must 
claw  off,  I  suppose." 

"  Ay,  and  at  once,"  cried  Hornigold.  "  See,  the 
wind  shifts  already!  It  blows  straight  from  the 
north  now." 

"  Hands  by  the  braces  there !  "  shouted  Morgan, 
following  with  apprehension  the  outstretched  finger 
of  the  old  boatswain.  "  Ease  down  the  helm.  Brace 
up.  Lively,  lads  !  " 

In  a  few  moments  the  great  ship,  her  yards  braced 
sharply  up,  was  headed  out  to  seaward  on  the  star 
board  tack.  The  wind  was  now  blowing  a  whole  gale 
and  the  masts  of  the  ship  were  bending  like  whips. 

"  We'll  have  to  get  sail  off  her,  I'm  thinking,  Hor 
nigold,"  said  Morgan. 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,  and  quick !  " 

"  Aloft !  "  yelled  Morgan,  "  and  take  in  the 
to'gallant  s'l's.  Close  reef  the  tops'l's  and  double 
reef  the  courses  then." 

The  shaking  shrouds  were  soon  covered  with 
masses  of  men,  and  as  the  ship  was  exceedingly  well 
handled  the  canvas  was  promptly  snugged  down  by 
the  eager  crew.  Hornigold  with  young  Teach  to 
assist  him  went  to  the  helm.  Morgan  gave  his  per- 

151 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


sonal  attention  to  the  maneuvering  of  the  ship,  and 
the  other  officers  stationed  themselves  where  they 
could  best  promote  and  direct  the  efforts  of  the  sea 
men. 

Thus  during  the  long  morning  they  endeavored  to 
claw  off  the  lee  shore.  Morgan  luffed  the  ship 
through  the  heavy  squalls  which  rose  to  the  violence 
of  a  hurricane,  with  consummate  skill.  Absolutely 
fearless,  a  master  of  his  profession,  he  did  all  with 
that  ship  that  mortal  man  could  have  done,  yet  their 
situation  became  more  and  more  precarious.  They 
had  long  since  passed  La  Guayra.  They  had  had  a 
fleeting  glimpse  of  the  shipping  in  the  harbor  driving 
helplessly  on  shore  as  they  dashed  by  under  the  gray 
clouds  which  had  overspread  the  sea.  That  town  was 
now  hidden  from  them  by  a  bend  of  the  coast,  and 
they  found  themselves  in  a  curious  bight  of  land,  ex 
tending  far  into  the  ocean  in  front  of  them.  The 
mountains  here  did  not  so  nearly  approach  the  water- 
line,  and  from  the  look  of  the  place  there  appeared 
to  be  a  shoal  projecting  some  distance  into  the  ocean 
from  the  point  ahead.  Some  of  the  buccaneers  who 
knew  these  waters  confirmed  the  indications  by  as 
serting  the  existence  of  the  shoal. 

In  spite  of  all  that  Morgan  could  do  it  was  quite 
evident  that  they  could  not  weather  the  shoal  on  their 
present  tack.  There  was  not  sea-room  to  wear  and 

152 


BUCCANEER 


bear  up  on  the  other  tack.  The  vessel,  in  fact,  like 
all  ships  in  those  days  and  especially  Spanish  galleons, 
had  a  tendency  to  go  to  leeward  like  a  barrel,  and 
only  Morgan's  resourceful  seamanship  had  saved 
them  from  the  fatal  embraces  of  the  shore  long  since. 
The  canvas  she  was  carrying  was  more  than  she  could 
legitimately  bear  in  such  a  hurricane.  If  there  had 
been  sea-room  Morgan  would  have  stripped  her  to 
bare  poles  long  since,  but  under  the  circumstances  it 
was  necessary  for  him  to  retain  full  control  and 
direction  of  the  ship ;  so,  although  he  reduced  sail  to 
the  lowest  point,  he  still  spread  a  little  canvas. 

The  men  were  filled  with  apprehension,  not  only 
for  their  lives  but,  such  was  their  covetousness,  for 
the  treasure  they  had  captured,  for  they  stood  about 
a  hundred  chances  to  one  of  losing  the  ship.  Each 
squall  that  swept  down  upon  them  was  harder  than 
the  one  before.  Each  time  the  vessel  almost  went 
over  on  her  beam  ends,  for  Morgan  would  not  luff 
until  the  last  moment,  since  each  time  that  he  did  so 
and  lost  way  temporarily  he  found  himself  driven 
bodily  nearer  the  land.  The  men  would  have 
mutinied  had  it  not  been  patent  to  the  most  stupid 
mind  that  their  only  salvation  lay  in  Morgan.  Never 
had  that  despicable  villain  appeared  to  better  ad 
vantage  than  when  he  stood  on  the  weather  quarter 
overlooking  the  ship,  his  long  gray  hair  blown  out  in 

153 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


the  wind,  fighting  against  a  foe  whose  strength  was 
not  to  be  measured  by  the  mind  of  man,  for  his  life 
and  his  ship. 

Hornigold  and  Teach,  grasping  the  wheel  assisted 
by  two  of  the  ablest  seamen,  were  steering  the  ship 
with  exquisite  precision.  Sweat  poured  from  their 
brows  at  the  violence  of  the  labor  required  to  control 
the  massive  helm.  The  men  lay  to  windward  on  the 
deck,  or  grouped  in  clusters  around  the  masts,  or 
hung  to  the  life  lines  which  had  been  passed  in  every 
direction.  At  Morgan's  side  stood  Yelsers  and 
Raveneau,  prime  seamen  both. 

"  What  think  ye,  gentlemen?  "  asked  Morgan,  at 
last  pointing  to  the  point  looming  fearfully  close 
ahead  of  them.  "  Can  we  weather  it  ?  " 

"  Never !  "  answered  de  Lussan,  shaking  his  head. 
"  Well,  it  has  been  a  short  cruise  and  a  merry  one. 
Pity  to  lose  our  freightage  and  lives." 

"And  you,  Velsers?" 

"  No,"  said  the  German,  "  it  can't  be  done.  Why 
did  we  ever  come  to  this  cursed  coast  ?  " 

"  Avast  that !  "  cried  Morgan,  thinking  quickly. 
"Gentlemen,  we'll  club-haul  the  ship." 

"  The  water's  too  deep,  my  captain,  to  give  holding 
ground  to  the  anchor,"  urged  Kaveneau  shrugging 
his  shoulders. 


154 


BUCCANEER 


"  It  shoals  yonder,  I  think,"  answered  Morgan. 
"  We'll  hold  on  until  the  last  minute  and  then  try." 

"  'Tis  wasted  labor,"  growled  Velsers. 

"  And  certain  death  to  hold  on,"  added  the  French 
man. 

"  Have  you  anything  else  to  propose,  sirs  ?  "  asked 
Morgan  sharply.  "  We  can't  tack  ship  against  this 
wind  and  sea.  There's  no  room  to  wear.  What's  to 
do?" 

The  men  made  no  answer. 

"  Forward  there !  "  cried  the  old  buccaneer,  and  it 
was  astonishing  the  force  and  power  with  which  he 
made  himself  heard  in  spite  of  the  roar  of  the  wind 
and  the  smash  of  the  sea.  "  Get  the  lee  anchor  off 
the  bows  there  !  L'Ollonois  ?  " 

"  Ay,  ay." 

"  Run  a  hawser  from  the  anchor  in  aft  here  on  the 
quarter.  We'll  club-haul  the  ship.  See  the  cable 
clear  for  running." 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  cried  the  Frenchman,  summon 
ing  the  hardiest  hands  and  the  most  skilful  to  carry 
out  his  commander's  orders. 

"  Eeady  it  is,  sir,"  answered  Hornigold,  tightening 
his  grasp  on  the  spokes  and  nodding  his  head  to  his 
superior. 

"To  the  braces,  lads!     Obey  orders  sharply.    It's 

our  last  chance." 

155 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


The  water  was  roaring  and  smashing  against  the 
shore  not  a  cable's  length  away.  Usually  in  those 
latitudes  it  deepened  tremendously  a  short  distance 
from  the  low  water  mark,  and  there  was  a  grave  ques 
tion  whether  or  not  the  anchor,  with  the  scope  they 
could  give  it,  would  reach  bottom.  At  any  rate  it 
must  be  tried,  and  tried  now.  Morgan  had  held  on 
as  long  as  he  dared.  Another  minute  and  they  would 
strike. 

"  Down  helm !  "  he  shouted.  "  Flow  the  head 
sheets !  Eound  in  on  the  fore  braces,  there  !  Show 
that  canvas  aft !  " 

The  lateen  sail  on  the  cross  jack  yard  had  been 
furled,  and  Morgan,  to  force  her  head  around, 
directed  the  after  guard  to  spring  into  the  mizzen- 
rigging  with  a  bit  of  tarpaulin  and  by  exposing  it  and 
their  bodies  to  the  wind  to  act  as  a  sail  in  assisting 
her  to  head  away  from  the  shore. 

"'Helm-a-lee!  Hard-a-lee  !  "  cried  Hornigold, 
who  with  his  men  was  grasping  the  spokes  like  a 
giant. 

Slowly  the  old  galleon  swung  up  into  the  wind,  the 
waves  beating  upon  her  bows  with  a  noise  like 
crashes  of  thunder.  A  moment  she  hung.  She  could 
go  no  farther. 

"She's  in  irons!  Swing  that  yard!"  roared 
Morgan.  "  Cut  and  veer  away  forward !  " 

156 


BUCCANEER 


There  was  a  splash  as  the  anchor  dropped  over 
board. 

"  Hands  on  that  hawser !  "  he  shouted.  "  Every 
body  walk  away  with  it !  " 

The  whole  crew  apparently  piled  on  to  the  anchor 
hawser  in  the  hope  of  pulling  the  ship's  stern  around 
so  that  the  wind  would  take  her  on  the  other  bow. 
She  was  still  hanging  in  the  wind  and  driving 
straight  on  shore. 

"  Haul  away,  for  God's  sake  !  "  cried  Morgan ;  but 
the  hawser  came  in  board  through  their  hands  with 
a  readiness  and  ease  that  showed  the  anchor  had  not 
taken  the  ground.  The  drag  of  the  cable  to  the 
anchor,  however,  and  the  still  unspent  impetus  of  the 
first  swing,  turned  the  galleon's  stern  slightly  to 
windward.  Her  head  began  slowly  to  fall  off. 

"  She  stays  !  She  makes  it !  "  cried  the  captain. 
"  Meet  her  with  the  helm !  Let  go  and  haul !  Cut 
away  the  hawser !  " 

It  had  been  a  tremendous  feat  of  seamanship  and 
bade  fair  to  be  successful.  It  was  yet  touch  and  go, 
however,  and  the  breakers  were  perilously  near. 
They  were  writhing  around  her  forefoot  now,  yet  the 
wind  was  at  last  coming  in  over  the  other  bow. 

"  We're  safe !  "  cried  Morgan.  "  Flatten  in  for 
ward  !  Haul  aft  the  sheets  and  braces  !  " 

At  that  instant  there  was  a  terrific  crash  heard 
157 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 

above  the  roar  of  the  tempest.  The  fore-topmast  of 
the  Almirante  Eecalde  carried  sharply  off  at  the 
hounds.  Relieved  of  the  pressure,  she  shot  up  into 
the  wind  once  more  and  drove  straight  into  the 
seething  seas.  They  were  lost  with  their  treasure, 
their  hopes,  and  their  crimes !  At  the  mercy  of 
wind  and  wave ! 

The  men  were  as  quick  to  see  the  danger  as  was 
Morgan.  They  came  rushing  aft  baring  their 
weapons,  pouring  curses  and  imprecations  upon  him. 
He  stood  with  folded  arms,  a  scornful  smile  on  his  old 
face,  looking  upon  them,  Carib  watching  and  ready 
by  his  side.  In  another  second,  with  a  concussion 
which  threw  them  all  to  the  deck,  the  doomed  ship 
struck  heavily  upon  the  sands. 


158 


BOOK   III 

WHICH  TREATS  OF  THE  TANGLED  LOVE  AFFAIRS  OF 
THE   PEARL  OF  CARACAS 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER    IX 

DISCLOSES    THE    HOPELESS    PASSION    BETWEEN    DONNA   MER- 

CEDES   DE   LARA  AND   CAPTAIN   DOMINIQUE   ALVARADO, 

THE   COMMANDANTE   OF   LA  GUAYRA 


APTAIN"  DOMINIQUE   ALVAKADO 

stood  alone  on  the  plaza  of  the  ancient 
castle  which  for  over  a  century  had 
been  the  home  of  the  governors  of  La 
Guayra.  He  was  gazing 
listlessly  down  over  the 
parapet  which  bordered 
the  bare  sheer  precipice 
towering  above  the  sea 
port  town.  There  was 
nothing  in  his  eyes,  but 
a  great  deal  in  his  heavy 
heart. 

Captain  Alvarado,  who 
filled  the  honorable  sta 


tion  of  commandante  of  the  port,  was  a  soldier  of 
proven  courage.  The  protege  and  favorite  officer  of 
his  serene  highness  the  Count  Alvaro  de  Lara, 
Grandee  of  Spain  and  Viceroy  of  Venezuela,  he  had 

161 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


been  honored  with  great  responsibilities,  which  he 
had  discharged  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  master. 
From  a  military  point  of  view  the  office  of  Governor 
of  La  Guayra,  which  he  then  filled,  was  of  sufficient 
importance  to  entitle  him  to  high  position  and  much 
consideration  in  the  vice-regal  court  of  Caracas. 

Of  unknown  parentage,   Alvarado  had  been  re 
ceived  into  the  family  of  the  viceroy  when  an  infant. 
He  had  been  carefully  reared,  almost  as  he  had  been 
de  Lara's  son,  and  had  been  given  abundant  oppor 
tunity  to  distinguish  himself.     In  the  course  of  his 
short  life  he  had  managed  to  amass  a  modest  fortune 
by  honorable  means.    He  was  young  and  handsome; 
he  had  been  instructed,  for  the  viceroy  had  early 
shown  partiality  for  him,  in  the  best  schools  in  the 
New  World.     His  education  had  been  ripened  and 
polished  by  a  sojourn  of  several  years  in  Europe,  not 
only  at  the  court  of  Madrid  but  also  at  that  of  Ver 
sailles,  where  the  Count  de  Lara  had  been  sent  as 
ambassador  to  the  Grand  Monarch  during  a  period 
in  which,  for  the  sake  of  supervising  the  education  of 
his  only  daughter,  he  had  temporarily  absented  him 
self  from  his  beloved  Venezuela.     That  an  unknown 
man  should  have    been    given    such   opportunities, 
should  have  been  treated  with  so  much  consideration, 
was    sufficient    commentary    on    the    unprecedented 
kindness  of  heart  of  the  old  Hidalgo  who  represented 

162 


BUCCANEER 


the  failing  power  of  His  Most  Catholic  Majesty  of 
Spain,  Carlos  II.,  the  Bewitched,  in  the  new  world. 
Whatever  his  origin,  therefore,  he  had  been  brought 
up  as  a  Spanish  soldier  and  gentleman,  and  the  old 
count  was  openly  proud  of  him. 

With  assured  station,  ample  means,  increasing 
reputation;  with  youth,  health,  and  personal  good 
looks,  the  young  Governor  should  have  been  a  happy 
man.  But  it  was  easy  to  see  from  the  heavy  frown 
upon  his  sunny  face — for  he  was  that  rare  thing  in 
Spain,  a  blue-eyed  blond  who  at  first  sight  might 
have  been  mistaken  for  an  Englishman — that  his  soul 
was  filled  with  melancholy.  And  well  it  might  be, 
for  Alvarado  was  the  victim  of  a  hopeless  passion  for 
Mercedes  de  Lara,  the  Viceroy's  daughter,  known 
from  one  end  of  the  Caribbean  to  the  other,  from  her 
beauty  and  her  father's  station,  as  the  Pearl  of  Car 
acas. 

E"or  was  his  present  sadness  due  to  unrequited 
passion,  for  he  was  confident  that  the  adoration  of 
his  heart  was  met  with  an  adequate  response  from  its 
object.  Indeed,  it  was  no  secret  to  him  that  Mer 
cedes  loved  him  with  a  devotion  which  matched  his 
own.  It  was  not  that;  but  her  father  had  announced 
his  intention  to  betroth  the  girl  to  Don  Felipe  de 
Tobar  y  Bobadilla,  a  young  gentleman  of  ancient 
lineage  and  vast  wealth,  who  had  been  born  in  Amer- 

163 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


ica  and  was  the  reputed  head  in  the  Western  Hemi 
sphere  of  the  famous  family  whose  name  he  bore. 

The  consent  of  Donna  Mercedes  to  the  betrothal 
had  not  been  asked.  That  was  a  detail  which  was 
not  considered  necessary  by  parents  in  the  year  of 
grace  1685,  and  especially  by  Spanish  parents.  That 
she  should  object  to  the  engagement,  or  refuse  to 
carry  out  her  father's  plan  never  crossed  the  Vice 
roy's  imagination.  That  she  might  love  another,  was 
an  idea  to  which  he  never  gave  a  thought.  It  was 
the  business  of  a  well-brought-up  Spanish  maiden  to 
be  a  passive  instrument  in  the  carrying  out  of  her 
father's  views,  especially  in  things  matrimonial,  in 
which,  indeed,  love  found  little  room  for  entrance. 
But  Donna  Mercedes  loved  Captain  Alvarado  and 
she  cared  nothing  for  Don  Felipe.  Not  that  Don 
Felipe  was  disagreeable  to  her,  or  to  any  one.  He 
was  a  Spanish  gentleman  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
handsome,  distinguished,  proud,  and  gallant — but 
she  did  not,  could  not,  love  him.  To  complicate  mat 
ters  still  further  de  Tobar  was  Captain  Alvarado's 
cherished  companion  and  most  intimate  friend. 

The  progress  of  the  love  affair  between  Alvarado 
and  Donna  Mercedes  had  been  subjective  rather  than 
objective.  They  had  enjoyed  some  unusual  oppor 
tunities  for  meeting  on  account  of  the  station  the 
former  filled  in  the  Viceroy's  household  and  the  place 

164 


BUCCANEER 


he  held  in  his  heart,  yet  the  opportunities  for  ex 
tended  freedom  of  intercourse  between  young  men 
and  women  of  the  gentler  class  in  those  days,  and 
especially  among  Spaniards  of  high  rank,  were  ex 
tremely  limited.  The  old  count  took  care  to  see  that 
his  daughter  was  carefully  watched  and  shielded; 
not  because  he  suspected  her  of  anything,  for  he  did 
not,  but  because  it  was  a  habit  of  his  people  and  his 
ancestry.  The  busy  life  that  he  led,  the  many  em 
ployments  which  were  thrust  upon  him,  his  military 
duties,  had  kept  the  days  of  the  young  soldier  very 
full,  and  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  he 
would  have  had  little  time  for  love  making.  Fortun 
ately  much  time  is  not  required  to  develop  a  love 
affair,  especially  in  New  Spain  and  near  to  the 
equator. 

But  though  they  had  enjoyed  brief  opportunity 
for  personal  intercourse,  the  very  impossibilities  of 
free  communication,  the  difficulties  of  meeting,  had 
but  added  fuel  and  fire  to  their  affection.  Love  had 
flamed  into  these  two  hearts  with  all  the  intensity  of 
their  tropic  blood  and  tropic  land.  Alvarado's  pas 
sion  could  feed  for  days  and  grow  large  upon  the 
remembrance  of  the  fragrance  of  her  hand  when  he 
kissed  it  last  in  formal  salutation.  Mercedes7  soul 
could  enfold  itself  in  the  recollection  of  the  too  ar 
dent  pressure  of  his  lips,  the  burning  yet  respectful 

165 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


glance  he  had  shot  at  her,  by  others  unperceived, 
when  he  said  farewell.  The  memory  of  each  sigh  the 
tropic  breeze  had  wafted  to  her  ears  as  he  walked  in 
attendance  upon  her  at  some  formal  function  of  the 
court  was  as  much  to  her  as  the  flower  which  she  had 
artfully  dropped  at  his  feet  and  which  had  withered 
over  his  heart  ever  since,  was  to  him. 

The  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  exchange  of  those 
sweet  nothings  that  lovers  love  to  dwell  upon  and  the 
impossibility  of  any  hoped  for  end  to  their  love  mak 
ing  intensified  their  passion.  Little  or  nothing  had 
been  spoken  between  them,  but  each  knew  the  other 
loved.  For  the  first  moment  the  knowledge  of  that 
glorious  fact  had  sufficed  them — but  afterwards  they 
wanted  more.  Having  tasted,  they  would  fain  quaff 
deeply.  But  they  could  see  no  way  by  which  to 
manage  the  realization  of  their  dreams. 

The  situation  was  complicated  in  every  possible 
way  for  Alvarado.  Had  he  been  a  man  of  family 
like  his  friend,  de  Tobar,  he  would  have  gone  boldly 
to  the  Viceroy  and  asked  for  the  hand  of  his 
daughter,  in  which  case  he  thought  he  would  have 
met  with  no  refusal;  but,  being  ignorant  of  his  birth, 
having  not  even  a  legal  right  to  the  name  he  bore,  he 
knew  that  the  proud  old  Hidalgo  would  rather  see  his 
daughter  dead  than  wedded  to  him.  Of  all  the  an 
cient  splendors  of  the  Spanish  people  there  was  left 

163 


BUCCANEER 


them  but  one  thing  of  which  they  could  be  proud — 
their  ancient  name.  De  Lara,  who  belonged  to  one 
of  the  noblest  and  most  dLtinguished  families  of 
the  Iberian  Peninsula,  would  never  consent  to  de 
grade  his  line  by  allying  his  only  daughter  to  a  no 
body,  however  worthy  in  other  respects  the  suitor 
might  prove  to  be. 

Again,  had  Mercedes'  father  been  any  other  than 
the  life-long  patron  and  friend  to  whom  he  literally 
owed  everything  that  he  possessed,  such  was  the  im 
petuosity  of  Alvarado's  disposition  that,  at  every 
hazard,  he  would  have  taken  the  girl  by  stealth  or 
force  from  her  father's  protection,  made  her  his  wife, 
and  sought  an  asylum  in  England  or  France,  or  wher 
ever  he  could.  So  desperate  was  his  state  of  mind, 
so  overwhelming  his  love  that  he  would  have  shrunk 
from  nothing  to  win  her.  Yet  just  because  the  Vice 
roy  had  been  a  father  to  him,  just  because  he  had 
loved  him,  had  been  unexampled  in  his  kindness  and 
consideration  to  him,  just  because  he  reposed  such 
absolutely  unlimited  confidence  in  him,  the  young 
man  felt  bound  in  honor  by  fetters  that  he  could  not 
break. 

And  there  was  his  friendship  for  de  Tobar.  There 
were  many  young  gallants  about  the  vice-regal  court 
who,  jealous  of  Alvarado's  favor  and  envious  of  his 
merits,  had  not  scrupled  in  the  face  of  his  unknown 

107 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


origin  to  sneer,  to  mock,  or  to  slight — so  far  as  it  was 
safe  to  do  either  of  these  things  to  so  brave  and  able 
a  soldier.  Amid  these  gilded  youths  de  Tobar  with 
noble  magnanimity  and  affection  had  proved  himself 
Alvarado's  staunchest  friend.  A  romantic  attach 
ment  had  sprung  up  between  the  two  young  men, 
and  the  first  confidant  of  de  Tobar's  love  affairs  had 
been  Alvarado  himself.  To  betray  his  friend  was 
almost  as  bad  as  to  betray  his  patron.  It  was  not  to 
be  thought  of. 

Yet  how  could  he,  a  man  in  whose  blood — though 
it  may  have  been  ignoble  for  aught  he  knew — ran 
all  the  passions  of  his  race  with  the  fervor  and  fire  of 
the  best,  a  man  who  loved,  as  he  did,  the  ground  upon 
which  the  Seiiorita  de  Lara  walked,  stand  by  tamely 
and  see  her  given  to  another,  no  matter  who  he 
might  be  ?  He  would  have  given  the  fortune  which 
he  had  amassed  by  honorable  toil,  the  fame  he  had 
acquired  by  brilliant  exploits,  the  power  he  enjoyed 
through  the  position  he  had  achieved,  the  weight 
which  he  bore  in  the  councils  of  New  Spain,  every 
prospect  that  life  held  dear  to  him  to  solve  the 
dilemma  and  win  the  woman  he  loved  for  his  wife. 

He  passed  hours  in  weary  isolation  on  the  plaza  of 
the  great  castle  overlooking  the  stretched-out  town 
upon  the  narrow  strand  with  the  ceaseless  waves  beat 
ing  ever  upon  the  shore  from  the  heavenly  turquoise 

168 


BUCCANEER 


blue  of  the  Caribbean  wavering  far  into  the  distant 
horizon  before  him.  He  spent  days  and  nights, 
thinking,  dreaming,  agonizing,  while  he  wrestled 
vainly  with  the  problem.  Sometimes  he  strove  to 
call  to  his  mind  those  stern  resolutions  of  duty  which 
he  had  laid  before  himself  at  the  beginning  of  his 
career,  and  to  which  he  had  steadfastly  adhered  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  fortunes;  and  he  swore  that  he 
would  be  true  to  his  ideals,  that  the  trust  reposed 
in  him  by  the  Viceroy  should  not  be  betrayed,  that 
the  friendship  in  which  he  was  held  by  de  Tobar 
should  never  be  broken,  that  he  would  tear  out  of  his 
heart  the  image  of  the  woman  he  loved.  And  then, 
again,  he  knew  that  so  long  as  that  heart  kept  up  its 
beating  she  would  be  there,  and  to  rob  him  of  her 
image  meant  to  take  away  his  life.  If  there  had  been 
a  war,  if  some  opportunity  had  been  vouchsafed  him 
to  pour  out,  in  battle  against  the  enemy,  some  of  the 
ardor  that  consumed  him,  the  situation  would  have 
been  ameliorated;  but  the  times  were  those  of  pro 
found  peace.  There  was  nothing  to  occupy  his  mind 
except  the  routine  duties  of  the  garrison. 

Spain,  under  the  last  poor,  crazed,  bewitched,  de 
generate  descendant  of  the  once  formidable  Haps- 
burgs,  had  reached  the  lowest  depths  of  ignominy 
and  decay.  Alone,  almost,  under  her  flag  Venezuela 
was  well  governed — from  the  Spanish  standpoint, 

169 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


that  is;  from  the  native  American  point  of  view  the 
rule  of  even  the  gentlest  of  Spaniards  had  made  a 
hell  on  earth  of  the  fairest  countries  of  the  new  con 
tinent.  Of  all  the  cities  and  garrisons  which  were 
under  the  sway  of  the  Viceroy  de  Lara,  La  Guayra 
was  the  best  appointed  and  cared  for.  But  it  did  not 
require  a  great  deal  of  the  time  or  attention  from  so 
skilled  a  commander  as  Alvarado  to  keep  things  in 
proper  shape.  Time,  therefore,  hung  heavily  on  his 
hands.  There  were  few  women  of  rank  in  the  town, 
which  was  simply  the  port  of  entry  for  St.  J  ago  de 
Leon  across  the  mountains  which  rose  in  tree-clad 
slopes  diversified  by  bold  precipices  for  ten  thousand 
feet  back  of  the  palace,  and  from  the  commoner  sort 
of  women  the  young  captain  held  himself  proudly 
aloof,  while  his  love  safeguarded  him  from  the  allure 
ment  of  the  evil  and  the  shameless  who  flaunted  their 
iniquity  in  every  seaport  on  the  Caribbean. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  mountain  range  after  a 
descent  of  several  thousand  feet  to  a  beautiful  ver 
dant  valley  whose  altitude  tempered  the  tropic  heat 
of  the  low  latitude  into  a  salubrious  and  delightful 
climate,  lay  the  palace  of  the  Viceroy  and  the  city 
which  surrounded  it,  St.  Jago,  or  Santiago  de  Leon, 
commonly  called  the  City  of  Caracas. 

Many  a  day  had  Alvarado  turned  backward  from 
the  white-walled,  red-roofed  town  spread  out  at  his 

170 


BUCCANEER 


feet,  baking  under  the  palms,  seething  in  the  fierce 
heat,  as  if  striving  to  pierce  with  his  gaze  the  great 
cordilleras,  on  the  farther  side  of  which  in  the  cool 
white  palace  beneath  the  gigantic  ceibas  the  queen  of 
his  heart  made  her  home.  He  pictured  her  at  all 
hours  of  the  day;  he  dwelt  upon  her  image,  going 
over  again  in  his  mind  each  detail  of  her  face  and 
figure.  The  perfume  of  her  hand  was  still  fragrant 
upon  his  lips ;  the  sound  of  her  voice,  the  soft  musical 
voice  of  Andalusia,  still  vibrated  in  his  ear ;  her  burn 
ing  glance  pierced  him  even  in  his  dreams  like  a 
sword. 

He  was  mad,  mad  with  love  for  her,  crazed  with 
hopeless  passion.  There  seemed  to  be  no  way  out  of 
his  misery  but  for  him  to  pass  his  own  sword  through 
his  heart,  or  to  throw  himself  from  the  precipice,  or 
to  plunge  into  the  hot,  cruel  blue  of  the  enveloping 
Caribbean — the  color  of  the  sea  changed  in  his  eye 
with  his  temper,  like  a  woman's  mood.  Yet  he  was 
young,  he  hoped  in  spite  of  himself.  He  prayed — • 
for  he  was  not  old  enough  to  have  lost  faith — and  he 
planned.  Besides,  he  was  too  brave  a  soldier  to  kill 
himself,  and  she  was  not  yet  married.  She  was  not 
formally  betrothed,  even ;  although  it  was  well  known 
that  her  father  looked  favorably  upon  de  Tobar's  suit, 
no  formal  announcement  had  been  made  of  it  as  yet. 
So  in  spite  of  his  judgment  he  dreamed — the 

171 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


thoughts  of  youth  and  love  are  long,  long  thoughts, 
indeed. 

That  morning  the  young  captain,  engrossed  in  his 
emotions,  was  not  aware  of  the  approach  of  a  mes 
senger,  until  the  clank  of  the  man's  sword  upon  the 
stone  flags  of  the  plaza  caused  him  to  lift  his  head. 
He  was  a  soldier,  an  officer  of  the  bodyguard  of  the 
Viceroy,  and  he  bore  in  his  hand  a  letter  sealed  with 
the  de  Lara  coat  of  arms.  The  messenger  saluted 
and  handed  the  packet  to  the  captain. 

"  Yesterday  evening,  His  Excellency,  the  Viceroy, 
charged  me  to  deliver  this  letter  to  you  to-day." 

"  Fadrique,"  called  Alvarado,  to  a  servitor,  "  a 
flagon  of  wine  for  the  cavalier.  By  your  leave, 
sir/'  he  continued  with  formal  politeness,  opening 
the  packet  and  reading  the  message  : 


QAPTAIN  ALVARADO,  COMMANDANTE  OF  LA  GUAYRA. 
"GREETING: 

"  As  one  faithful  to  the  fortunes  of  our  family  we  would  crave 
your  honorable  presence  at  our  palace  in  Santiago  to-morrow  even 
ing.  In  view  of  your  service  and  devotion,  we  have  done  you  the 
honor  to  appoint  you  as  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the  formal  be 
trothal  of  our  daughter,  Donna  Mercedes,  to  your  friend,  Don  Felipe 
de  Tobar.  After  that,  as  we  have  received  appeals  for  help  from 
the  Orinoco  country,  we  propose  to  lead  His  Most  Catholic  Maj 
esty's  Imperial  troops  thither  in  person  to  overawe  the  natives  ;  and, 
reposing  full  trust  in  yonr  fidelity  and  honor,  we  deign  to  commit 
the  Donna  Mercedes  to  your  safe  keeping  in  our  city  of  La  Guayra, 
until  we  return.  Therefore  make  your  preparations  accordingly. 
"  Given  under  our  hand  and  seal, 

"  DE  LARA,  Viceroy." 
172 


BUCCANEER 


It  had  come !  The  old  man,  as  a  last  token  of  his 
respect,  had  nominated  him  as  a  witness  to  the  con 
tract  which  robbed  him  forever  of  hope  and  happi 
ness.  The  young  man  went  white  before  the  keen 
eye  of  the  messenger,  who,  in  common  with  other 
officers  of  the  Viceroy's  court,  suspected  what  was, 
indeed,  concealed  from  no  one  save  the  father  and 
lover.  The  world  swam  before  his  vision.  The  blue 
sea  seemed  to  rise  up  and  meet  the  green  hills  until 
he  could  not  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other.  His 
heart  almost  stopped  its  beating,  yet  summoning  his 
resolution  he  recovered  himself  by  an  effort  that  left 
him  trembling,  the  sweat  beading  his  forehead. 

"  Are  you  in  a  state  for  a  return  journey  at  once, 
senor  ?  "  he  asked  of  the  young  officer. 

"  At  your  service,  captain." 

"  That's  well.  Say  to  His  Excellency,  the  Vice 
roy,  that  I  thank  him  for  the  honor  he  does  me.  I 
shall  wait  upon  him  to-morrow  and  obey  his  com 
mands." 


173 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   X 

HOW    DONNA    MERCEDES    TEMPTED    HER    LOVER    AND    HOW 
HE  STROVE  VALIANTLY  TO  RESIST  HER  APPEALS 

LYARADO  was  alone  in  the  cabinet  of 
the  Viceroy,  to  which  his  rank  and  the 
favor  in  which  His  Excellency  held  him 
gave  him  access  at  all  times. 

He  had  ridden  all  day 
over  the  rough  road  that 
winds  over  the  moun 
tains  from  La  Guayra  to 
Caracas.  The  storm 
which  had  rushed  down 
the  mountain-side  all 
afternoon  matched  the 
tumult  in  his  soul,  and 
the  sheets  of  rain  blown 
upon  him  by  the  fierce 
v:ind  had  not  cooled  the 
fever  of  his  agitation.  The  unusual  tempest  was  one 
of  the  most  terrific  that  had  swept  over  the  coast  in 
years.  He  had  marked  as  he  rode  a  huge  ship  far  to 
seaward,  staggering  along  under  shortened  canvas 

174 


B UCCANEER 


and  laboring  tremendously  in  the  heavy  seas.  But 
his  thoughts  were  so  centered  upon  the  situation  in 
which  he  found  himself  that  he  had  not  particularly 
noticed  the  vessel,  although  passing  ships  were  in 
frequent  sights  off  the  port  of  La  Guayra.  Pale, 
haggard,  and  distraught  from  his  mental  struggle  he 
had  crossed  the  pass  at  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
and  descended  into  the  fertile  valley  now  adrip  with 
rain  and  looking  almost  cold  under  the  gray  sky,  and 
had  presented  himself  at  the  palace  of  the  Viceroy. 

He  had  changed  his  apparel  after  his  reception 
and  his  old  sergeant  had  polished  his  breastplate 
until  it  fairly  blazed  with  light,  for  though  the  occa 
sion  was  one  of  peace  he  had  felt  that  he  could  better 
sustain  his  part  in  the  military  uniform  in  which  he 
had  won  his  only  title  to  consideration.  He  schooled 
himself  to  go  through  that  part  with  the  resolution  of 
a  Spanish  gentleman.  Although  there  was  no  evi 
dence  of  gentle  blood  save  such  as  was  presented  by 
his  actions,  he  had  always  cherished  the  hope  that 
could  the  secret  of  his  birth  be  revealed  he  would  not 
be  found  unfit  for  the  honors  that  he  had  won  and 
the  ambitions  that  he  cherished.  Consequently  his 
appearance  in  the  brilliantly  lighted  hall  of  the  pal 
ace  among  the  gay  courtiers  resplendent  in  magnifi 
cent  attire,  blazing  with  jewels,  threw  a  somber  note 
over  the  proceedings. 

175 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


It  was  as  a  soldier  he  had  won  fame  and  the  con 
sideration  of  the  Viceroy;  in  no  other  capacity,  so 
far  as  any  man  knew,  had  he  the  right  to  enter  that 
assemblage  of  the  rich  and  well  born.  It  was  as  a 
soldier  he  would  perform  that  hardest  of  all  duties 
which  had  ever  been  laid  upon  him  by  his  friend  and 
patron,  the  Governor. 

Pale,  stern,  composed,  he  stood  an  iron  figure  of 
repression.  So  severe  was  the  constraint  that  he  put 
upon  himself  that  he  had  given  no  sign  of  his  emo 
tion,  even  at  the  near  approach  of  Donna  Mercedes, 
and  the  hand  which  signed  his  name  beneath  her 
father's  as  the  principal  witness  was  as  steady  as  if 
it  held  merely  the  sword  in  some  deadly  combat.  He 
endured  passively  the  affectionate  greetings  of  the 
happy  de  Tobar,  who  was  intoxicated  at  the  assur 
ance  afforded  by  the  betrothal  of  the  coming  realiza 
tion  of  all  his  hopes.  He  sustained  with  firmness 
the  confidence  of  the  Viceroy  and  the  admissions  de 
Lara  made  to  him  in  private,  of  his  pleasure  in  the 
suitable  and  fortunate  marriage  which  was  there  ar 
ranged.  He  even  bore  without  breaking  one  long, 
piteous  appeal  which  had  been  shot  at  him  from  the 
black  eyes  of  the  unhappy  Mercedes. 

To  her  he  seemed  preternaturally  cold  and  indif 
ferent.  He  was  so  strong,  so  brave,  so  successful. 
She  had  counted  upon  some  interposition  from  him, 

176 


BUCCANEER 


but  the  snow-capped  Andes  were  no  colder  than  he 
appeared,  their  granite  sides  no  more  rigid  and  un 
sympathetic.  It  was  with  a  feeling  almost  of  anger 
and  resentment  at  last  that  she  had  signed  the  be 
trothal  contract. 

But  the  restraint  on  the  man  was  more  than  he 
could  bear.  The  cumulative  force  of  the  reproach  of 
the  woman  he  loved,  the  confidence  of  the  Viceroy, 
the  rapturous  happiness  of  his  best  friend,  was  not  to 
be  endured  longer.  Pleading  indisposition,  he  early 
begged  leave  to  withdraw  from  the  festivities  which 
succeeded  the  completion  of  the  betrothal  ceremony 
and  the  retirement  of  the  ladies.  At  the  suggestion 
of  the  Viceroy,  who  said  he  desired  to  consult  with 
him  later  in  the  evening,  he  went  into  the  deserted 
cabinet  of  the  latter. 

The  palace  was  built  in  the  form  of  a  quadrangle 
around  an  open  patio.  A  balcony  ran  along  the 
second  story  passing  the  Viceroy's  cabinet,  beyond 
which  was  his  bedroom  and  beyond  that  the  apart 
ments  of  his  daughter.  The  rain  had  ceased  and  the 
storm  had  spent  itself.  It  was  a  calm  and  beautiful 
night,  the  moon  shining  with  tropic  splendor  through 
the  open  window  dispensed  with  the  necessity  of 
lights.  There  was  no  one  in  the  cabinet  when  he  en 
tered,  and  he  felt  at  last  able  to  give  way  to  his 
emotion;  Mercedes  though  she  was  not  married  was 

177 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


now  lost  to  him  beyond  recourse.  After  the  women 
withdrew  from  the  hall  with  Donna  Mercedes  there 
was  no  restraint  put  upon  the  young  nobles,  and 
from  the  other  side  of  the  patio  came  the  sound  of 
uproarious  revelry  and  feasting — his  friends  and 
comrades  with  generous  cheer  felicitating  the  happy 
bridegroom  that  was  to  be.  Alvarado  was  alone,  un 
disturbed,  forgotten,  and  likely  to  remain  so.  He 
put  his  head  upon  his  hands  and  groaned  in  anguish. 

"  Why  should  it  not  have  been  I  ?  "  he  murmured. 
"  Is  he  stronger,  braver,  a  better  soldier  ?  Does  he 
love  her  more  ?  O  Mother  of  God !  Riches  ?  Can  I 
not  acquire  them?  Fame?  Have  I  not  a  large 
measure?  Birth?  Ah,  that  is  it!  My  father!  my 
mother  !  If  I  could  only  know !  How  she  looked  at 
me !  What  piteous  appeal  in  her  eyes !  What  re 
proach  when  I  stood  passive  cased  in  iron,  with  a 
breaking  heart.  O  my  God !  My  God !  Mercedes ! 
Mercedes !  " 

In  his  anguish  he  called  the  name  aloud.  So  ab 
sorbed  and  preoccupied  in  his  grief  had  he  been  that 
he  was  not  aware  of  a  figure  softly  moving  along  the 
balcony  in  the  shadow.  He  did  not  hear  a  footfall 
coming  through  the  open  window  that  gave  into  the 
room.  He  did  not  realize  that  he  had  an  auditor  to 
his  words,  a  witness  to  his  grief,  until  a  touch  soft 


178 


BUCCANEER 


as  a  snowflake  fell  upon  his  fair  head  and  a  voice  for 
which  he  languished  whispered  in  his  ear : 

"  You  called  me;  I  am  come." 

"  Senorita  Mercedes !  "  he  cried,  lifting  his  head 
and  gazing  upon  her  in  startled  surprise.  "  How 
came  you  here  ?  "  he  added  brusquely,  catching  her 
hands  with  a  fierce  grasp  in  the  intensity  of  his  emo 
tion  as  he  spoke. 

"  Is  this  my  greeting  ?  "  she  answered,  surprised 
in  turn  that  he  had  not  instantly  swept  her  to  his 
heart. 

She  strove  to  draw  herself  away,  and  when  he  per 
ceived  her  intent  he  opened  his  hands  and  allowed 
her  arms  to  fall  by  her  side. 

"  I  have  been  mistaken/'  she  went  on  piteously, 
"  I  am  not  wanted." 

She  turned  away  and  stood  full  in  the  silver  bar  of 
the  moonlight  streaming  through  the  casement.  Her 
white  face  shone  in  the  light  against  the  dark  back 
ground  of  the  huge  empty  room — that  face  with  its 
aureole  of  soft  dark  hair,  the  face  of  a  saint,  pale  yet 
not  passionless,  of  the  heaven  heavenly,  yet  with  just 
enough  of  earthly  feeling  in  her  eyes  to  attest  that 
she  w^as  a  very  woman  after  all. 

"  Go  not,"  he  cried,  catching  her  again  and  draw 
ing  her  back. 

Gone  were  his  resolutions,  shattered  was  his  deter- 
179 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


urination,  broken  was  his  resistance.  She  was  here 
before  him,  at  all  hazards  he  would  detain  her.  They 
were  alone  together,  almost  for  the  first  time  in  their 
lives.  It  was  night,  the  balmy  wind  blew  softly,  the 
moonlight  enveloped  them.  Such  an  opportunity 
would  never  come  again.  It  was  madness.  It  was 
fatal.  ISTo  matter.  She  should  not  go  now. 

"  I  heard  you,'7  she  murmured,  swaying  toward 
him.  "  I  heard  —  you  seemed  to  be  —  suffering.  I  do 
not  know  why  —  something  drew  me  on.  You  whis 
pered  —  you  were  speaking  —  I  —  listened.  I  came 
nearer.  Was  your  heart  breaking,  too?  Despise 
me  !  " 

She  put  her  face  in  her  hands.  It  was  a  confession 
she  made.  A  wave  of  shame  swept  over  her. 

"  Despise  you  ?    Ah,  God  help  me,  I  love  you  !  " 

And  this  time  he  gathered  her  in  his  arms,  and 
drew  her  back  into  the  deeper  shadow. 

"  And  you  were  so  cold,"  she  whispered.  "  I 
looked  at  you.  I  begged  you  with  all  my  soul  before 
I  signed.  You  did  nothing,  nothing!  O  Mother  of 
God,  is  there  no  help?  " 

"  Dost  love  me  ?  " 

"  With  all  my  soul,"  she  answered. 

"Poor  --  " 


•"  Obscure  --  " 

180 


BUCCANEER 


"  Lowly — perhaps  ignobly  born ' 

"  Nay,  love,  these  are  mere  words  to  me.  Rich  or 
poor,  high  or  low,  noble  or  ignoble,  thou  only  hast 
my  heart.  It  beats  and  throbs  only  for  thee.  I 
have  thought  upon  thee,  dreamed  upon  thee,  loved 
thee.  I  can  not  marry  Don  Felipe.  I,  too,  have  the 
pride  of  the  de  Lara's.  My  father  shall  find  it.  I 
signed  that  contract  under  duress.  You  would  do 
nothing.  Oh,  Alvarado,  Alvarado,  wilt  thou  stand 
by  and  let  me  be  taken  into  the  arms  of  another? 
But  no,  I  shall  die  before  that  happens." 

"  Donna  Mercedes,"  cried  the  unhappy  young 
man,  "  I  love  thee,  I  adore  thee,  I  worship  thee  with 
all  my  heart  and  soul!  Were  it  not  a  coward's  act 
I  would  have  plunged  my  dagger  into  my  breast  ere 
I  witnessed  that  betrothal  to-night." 

"  Thou  shouldst  first  have  sheathed  it  in  mine," 
she  whispered.  "  But  could'st  find  no  better  use  for 
^thy  weapon  than  that  ?  " 

"  Would  you  have  me  kill  Don  Felipe  ?  " 
"  No,  no,  but  defend  me  with  it.  There  are  hid- 
!den  recesses  in  the  mountains.  Your  soldiers  wor 
ship  you.  Take  me  away,  away  into  the  undiscovered 
countries  to  the  southward.  A  continent  is  before 
you.  We  will  find  a  new  Mexico,  carve  out  a  new 
Peru  with  your  sword,  though  I  want  nothing  but  to 

181 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


be  with  you,  alone  with  you,  my  soldier,  my  lover, 
my  king !  " 
''-'~?  But  your  plighted  word  ?  " 

"  'Tis  nothing.  My  heart  was  plighted  to  you. 
That  is  enough.  Let  us  go,  we  may  never  have  the 
chance  again/'  she  urged,  clinging  to  him. 

A  fearful  struggle  was  going  on  in  Alvarado's 
breast.  What  she  proposed  was  the  very  thing  he 
would  have  attempted  were  the  circumstances  other 
than  they  were.  But  his  patron,  his  friend,  his  mili 
tary  duty,  his  honor  as  a  soldier — the  sweat  beaded 
his  forehead  again.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  at 
the  betrothal  to  give  her  up.  He  had  abandoned 
hope;  he  had  put  aside  possibilities,  for  he  could  see 
none.  But  here  she  was  in  his  arms,  a  living,  breath 
ing,  vital,  passionate  figure,  her  heart  beating  against 
his  own,  pleading  with  him  to  take  her  away.  Here 
was  love  with  all  its  witchery,  with  all  its  magic,  with 
all  its  power,  attacking  the  defenses  of  his  heart; 
and  the  woman  whom  he  adored  as  his  very  life,  with 
all  the  passion  in  his  being,  was  urging,  imploring, 
begging  him  to  take  her  away.  He  was  weakening, 
wavering,  and  the  woman  who  watched  him  realized 
it  and  added  fuel  to  the  flame. 

"  The  love  I  bear  your  father !  "  lie  gasped. 

"Should  it  bind  where  mine  breaks?  I  ain  his 
daughter." 

182 


BUCCANEER 


"  And  Don  Felipe  is  my  personal  friend." 

"  And  my  betrothed,  but  I  hesitate  not.7' 

"  My  oath  as  a  soldier — 

"  And  mine  as  a  woman." 

"  Gratitude — duty— 

"  Oh,  Alvarado,  you  love  me  not !  "  she  cried. 
"  These  are  the  strongest.  I  have  dreamed  a  dream. 
Lend  me  your  dagger.  There  shall  be  no  awakening. 
Without  you  I  can  not  bear — 

As  she  spoke  she  plucked  the  dagger  from  the  belt 
of  the  young  soldier,  lifted  the  point  gleaming  in  the 
moonlight  and  raised  it  to  her  heart.  He  caught  it 
instantly. 

"  No,  no !  "  he  cried.     "  Give  back  the  weapon." 

The  poniard  fell  from  her  hand. 

"  Thou  hast  taken  me,  I  thank  thee,"  she  mur 
mured,  thinking  the  battle  won  as  he  swept  her  once 
more  in  his  arms.  This  time  he  bent  his  head  to  her 
upturned  face  and  pressed  kiss  after  kiss  upon  the 
trembling  lips.  It  was  the  first  time,  and  they 
abandoned  themselves  to  their  transports  with  all  the 
fire  of  their  long  restrained  passion. 

"  And  is  this  the  honor  of  Captain  Alvarado  ?  " 
cried  a  stern  voice  as  the  Viceroy  entered  the  room. 
"  My  officer  in  whom  I  trusted  ?  Death  and  fury ! 
Donna  Mercedes,  what  do  you  here  ?  " 

"  The  fault  is  mine,"  said  Alvarado,  stepping  be- 
183 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


tween  the  woman  he  loved  and  her  infuriated  father. 
"  I  found  Donna  Mercedes  in  the  cabinet  when  I 
came  in.  She  strove  to  fly.  I  detained  her — by 
force.  I  poured  into  her  ear  a  tale  of  my  guilty  pas 
sion.  Mine  is  the  fault.  She  repulsed  me.  She 
drove  me  off." 

"  The  dagger  at  your  feet  ?  " 

"  She  snatched  it  from  me  and  swore  to  bury  it 
in  her  heart  unless  I  left  her.  I  alone  am  guilty." 

He  lied  instantly  and  nobly  to  save  the  woman's 
honor. 

"  Thou  villain,  thou  false  friend !  "  shouted  the 
Viceroy,  whipping  out  his  sword. 

He  was  beside  himself  with  fury,  but  there  was  a 
characteristic  touch  of  magnanimity  about  his  next 
action ;  so  handsome,  so  splendid,  so  noble,  in  spite  of 
his  degrading  confession,  did  the  young  man  look, 
that  he  gave  him  a  chance. 

"  Draw  your  sword,  Captain  Alvarado,  for  as  I 
live  I  shall  run  you  through !  " 

Alvarado's  hand  went  to  his  belt,  he  unclasped  it 
and  threw  it  aside. 

"  There  lies  my  sword.  I  am  dishonored,"  he 
cried.  "  Strike,  and  end  it  all." 

"  Not  so,  for  Christ's  sake !  "  screamed  Mercedes, 
who  had  heard  as  if  in  a  daze.  "  He  hath  not  told 
the  truth.  He  hath  lied  for  me.  I  alone  am  guilty. 

184 


BUCCANEER 


I  heard  him  praying  here  in  the  still  night  and  I  came 
in,  not  he.  I  threw  myself  into  his  arms.  I  begged 
him  to  take  me  away.  He  spoke  of  his  love  and 
friendship  for  you,  for  Don  Felipe,  his  honor,  his 
duty.  I  did  indeed  seize  the  dagger,  but  because 
though  he  loved  me  he  would  still  be  true.  On  my 
head  be  the  shame.  Honor  this  gentleman,  my 
father,  as  I — love  him." 

She  flung  herself  at  her  father's  feet  and  caught 
his  hand. 

"  I  love  him,"  she  sobbed,  "  I  love  him.  With  all 
the  power,  all  the  intensity,  all  the  pride  of  the  great 
est  of  the  de  Laras  I  love  him." 

"  Is  this  true,  Captain  Alvarado  ?  " 

"  Would  God  she  had  not  said  so,"  answered  the 
young  man  gloomily. 

"Is  it  true?" 

"  I  can  not  deny  it,  my  lord,  and  yet  I  am  the 
guilty  one.  I  was  on  the  point  of  yielding.  Had  you 
not  come  in  we  should  have  gone  away." 

"Yet  you  had  refused?" 

"  I— I— hesitated." 

"  Refused  my  daughter  !  My  God  !  "  whispered 
the  old  man.  "  And  you,  shameless  girl,  you  forced 
yourself  upon  him  ?  Threw  yourself  into  his  arms  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I  loved  him.  Did'st  never  love  in  thine 
own  day,  my  father?  Did'st  never  feel  that  life 

185 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


itself  were  as  nothing  compared  to  what  beats  and 
throbs  here  ?  " 

"  But  Don  Felipe?" 

"  He  is  a  gallant  gentleman.  I  love  him  not.  Oh, 
sir,  for  God's  sake " 

"  Press  your  daughter  no  further,  Don  Alvaro, 
she  is  beside  herself/'  gasped  out  Alvarado  hoarsely. 
"  ?Tis  all  my  fault.  I  loved  her  so  deeply  that  she 
caught  the  feeling  in  her  own  heart.  When  I  am  gone 
she  will  forget  me.  You  have  raised  me  from  ob 
scurity,  you  have  loaded  me  with  honor,  you  have 
given  me  every  opportunity — I  will  be  true.  I  will 
be  faithful  to  you.  'Twill  be  death,  but  I  hope  it 
may  come  quickly.  Misjudge  me  not,  sweet  lady. 
Happiness  smiles  not  upon  my  passion,  sadness  marks 
me  for  her  own.  I  pray  God  'twill  be  but  for  a  little 
space.  Give  me  some  work  to  do  that  I  may  kill 
sorrow  by  losing  my  life,  my  lord.  And  thou,  Donna 
Mercedes,  forget  me  and  be  happy  with  Don  Felipe." 

"  Never,  never !  "  cried  the  girl. 

She  rose  to  her  feet  and  came  nearer  to  him. 
Her  father  stood  by  as  if  stunned.  She  laid  her 
arms  around  Alvarado's  neck.  She  looked  into  her 
lover's  eyes. 

*  You  love  me  and  I  love  you.  What  matters  any 
thing  else  ?  " 


186 


BUCCANEER 


"  Oh,  my  lord,  my  lord !  "  cried  Alvarado,  staring 
at  the  Viceroy,  "  kill  me,  I  pray,  and  end  it  all !  " 

"  Thou  must  first  kill  me,"  cried  Mercedes,  ex 
tending  her  arms  across  her  lover's  breast. 

"  Donna  Mercedes,"  said  her  father,  "  thou  hast 
put  such  shame  upon  the  name  and  fame  of  de  Lara 
as  it  hath  never  borne  in  five  hundred  years.  Thou 
hast  been  betrothed  to  an  honorable  gentleman.  It 
is  my  will  that  the  compact  be  carried  out." 

"  O  my  God!  my  God!  "  cried  the  unhappy  girl, 
sinking  into  a  chair.  "  Wilt  Thou  permit  such  things 
to  be?" 

"  And,  Alvarado,"  went  on  the  old  man,  not  heed 
ing  his  daughter's  piteous  prayer.  "  I  know  not  thy 
parentage  nor  to  what  station  thou  wert  born,  but  I 
have  marked  you  from  that  day  when,  after  Panama, 
they  brought  you  a  baby  into  my  house.  I  have 
watched  you  with  pride  and  joy.  Whatever  responsi 
bility  I  have  placed  before  you,  you  have  met  it. 
Whatever  demand  that  hard  circumstances  have 
made  upon  you,  you  have  overcome  it.  For  every 
test  there  counts  a  victory.  You  have  done  the  State 
and  me  great  service,  none  greater  than  to-night. 
With  such  a  temptation  before  thee,  that  few  men 
that  I  have  come  in  contact  with  in  my  long  life 
could  have  resisted,  you  have  thrown  it  aside.  You 
and  your  honor  have  been  tried  and  not  found  want- 

187 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


ing.  Whatever  you  may  have  been  I  know  you  now 
to  be  the  finest  thing  on  God's  earth,  a  Spanish 
gentleman!  Nay,  with  such  evidence  of  your  char 
acter  I  could,  were  it  possible,  have  set  aside  the, 
claims  of  birth  and  station— 

"  Oh,  my  father,  my  father !  "  interrupted  the  girl 
joyously. 

"  And  have  given  you  Donna  Mercedes  to  wife." 

"  Your  Excellency " 

"  But  'tis  too  late.  The  betrothal  has  been  made ; 
the  contract  signed;  my  word  is  passed.  In  solemn 
attestation  before  our  Holy  Church  I  have  promised 
to  give  my  daughter  to  Don  Felipe  de  Tobar.  Noth 
ing  can  be  urged  against  the  match — 

"  But  love,"  interjected  Mercedes;  "  that  is  want- 
ing." 

"  It  seems  so,"  returned  the  Viceroy.  "  And  yet, 
where  duty  and  honor  demand,  love  is  nothing.  Don 
na  Mercedes,  thou  hast  broken  my  heart.  That  a 
Spanish  gentlewoman  should  have  shown  herself  so 
bold !  I  could  punish  thee,  but  thou  art  mine  all.  I 
am  an  old  man.  Perhaps  there  is  some  excuse  in 
love.  I  will  say  no  more.  I  will  e'en  forgive  thee, 
but  I  must  have  your  words,  both  of  you,  that  there 
shall  be  no  more  of  this ;  that  no  other  word  of  affec 
tion  for  the  other  shall  pass  either  lip,  forever,  and 


188 


BUCCANEER 


that  you  will  be  forever  silent  about  the  events  of 
this  night." 

"  Speak  thou  first,  Captain  Alvarado,"  said  the 
girl. 

"  You  have  loved  me/'  cried  the  young  man,  turn 
ing  toward  Donna  Mercedes,  "  and  you  have  trusted 
me,"  bowing  to  the  old  man.  "  Here  are  two  appeals. 
God  help  me,  I  can  not  hesitate.  Thou  shalt  have 
my  word.  Would  this  were  the  last  from  my  lips." 

"  And  he  could 'promise;  he  could  say  it!  "  wailed 
the  broken-hearted  woman.  "  O  my  father,  he  loves 
me  not !  I  have  been  blind  !  I  promise  thee,  on  the 
honor  of  a  de  Lara !  I  have  leaned  upon  a  broken 
reed." 

"  Never,"  cried  the  old  man,  "  hath  he  loved  thee 
so  truly  and  so  grandly  as  at  this  moment." 

"  It  may  be,  it  may  be,"  sobbed  the  girl,  reeling  as 
she  spoke.  "  Take  me  away.  'Tis  more  than  I  can 
bear." 

Then  she  sank  prostrate,  senseless  between  the  two 
men  who  loved  her. 


189 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XI 

WHEREIN    CAPTAIN    ALVARADO    PLEDGES   HIS    WORD    TO    THE 

VICEROY  OF  VENEZUELA,  THE   COUNT  ALVARO   DE   LARA, 

AND  TO   DON   FELIPE   DE   TOBAR,   HIS   FRIEND 


E  must  have  assistance/'  cried  the  Vice 
roy  in  dismay.     "  Alvarado,  do  you  go 

and  summon 

"  Into  the  women's  apartments,  my 
lord?  " 

"  Nay,  I  will  go.  Watch  you  here.  I  trust  you, 
you  see,"  answered  the  old  man,  promptly  running- 
through  the  window  and  out  on  the  balcony  toward 
the  apartments  of  his  daughter.  He  went  quickly 
but  making  no  noise,  for  he  did  not  wish  the  events 
of  the  evening  to  become  public. 

Left  to  himself,  Alvarado,  resisting  the  temptation 
to  take  the  prostrate  form  of  his  love  in  his  arms  and 
cover  her  cold  face  with  kisses,  knelt  down  by  her 
side  and  began  chafing  her  hands.  He  thought  it  no 
breach  of  propriety  to  murmur  her  name.  Indeed 
he  could  not  keep  the  words  from  his  lips.  Almost 
instantly  the  Viceroy  departed  there  was  a  commo 
tion  in  the  outer  hall.  There  was  a  knock  on  the 

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door,  repeated  once  and  again,  and  before  Alvarado 
could  determine  upon  a  course  of  action,  Don  Felipe 
burst  into  the  room  followed  by  Senora  Agapida,  the 
duenna  of  Donna  Mercedes. 

"  Your  Excellency—  ''  cried  the  old  woman  in 
agitation,  "  I  missed  the  Senorita.  I  have 
searched — 

"  But  who  is  this?"  interrupted  de  Tobar,  stepping 
over  to  where  Alvarado  still  knelt  by  the  prostrate 
girl.  "  'Tis  not  the  Viceroy !  "  He  laid  his  hand  on 
the  other  man's  shoulder  and  recoiled  in  surprise. 

"  Dominique !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  What  do  you 
here  and  who — 

"  Mother  of  God !  "  shrieked  the  duenna.  "  There 
lies  the  Donna  Mercedes !  " 

"  She  is  hurt?  "  asked  Felipe,  for  the  moment  his 
surprise  at  the  presence  of  Alvarado  lost  in  his 
anxiety  for  his  betrothal. 

"  I  know  not/'  answered  the  distracted  old  woman. 

"  She  lives,"  said  Alvarado,  rising  to  his  feet  and 
facing  his  friend.  "  She  hath  but  fainted." 

"  Water !  "  said  Senora  Agapida. 

Both  men  started  instantly  to  hand  her  the  carafe 
that  stood  on  a  table  near  by.  Don  Felipe  was  nearer 
and  got  it  first. 

Senora  Agapida  loosened  the  dress  of  the  young 
woman  and  sprinkled  her  face  and  hands  with  the 

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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


water,  laying  her  head  back  upon  the  floor  as  she  did 
so  and  in  a  moment  the  girl  opened  her  eyes.  In 
the  darkness  of  the  room,  for  no  lamp  had  as  yet 
been  lighted,  she  had  not  recognized  in  her  bewilder 
ment  who  was  bending  over  her,  for  Alvarado  had 
forced  himself  to  draw  back,  yielding  his  place  to  de 
Tobar  as  if  by  right. 

"  Alvarado  !  "  she  murmured. 

"  She  lives,"  said  Don  Felipe,  with  relief  and  jeal 
ousy  mingled  in  his  voice,  and  then  he  turned  and 
faced  the  other. 

"  And  now,  Senor  Alvarado,  perhaps  you  will  be 
able  to  explain  how  you  came  to  be  here  alone,  at 
this  hour  of  night,  with  my  betrothed,  and  why  she 
calls  thy  name !  By  St.  Jago,  sir,  have  you  dared  to 
offer  violence  to  this  lady  ?  " 

His  hand  went  to  his  sword.  To  draw  it  was  the 
work  of  a  moment.  He  menaced  the  young  soldier 
with  the  point. 

"  I  could  kill  you  as  you  stand  there  !  "  he  cried  in 
growing  rage.  "  But  the  memory  of  our  ancient 
friendship  stays  my  hand.  You  shall  have  a  chance. 
Where  is  your  weapon!  " 

"  Strike,  if  it  please  you.  I  want  nothing  but 
death,"  answered  Alvarado,  making  no  effort  what 
ever  to  defend  himself. 


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"  Hast  deserved  it  at  my  hands,  then?  "  exclaimed 
the  now  infuriated  de  Tobar. 

"  Stay!  "  interrupted  the  Viceroy  re-entering  the 
room.  "  What  means  this  assault  upon  my  captain? 
Donna  Mercedes?  " 

"  She  revives/'  said  the  duenna. 

"  Is  it  thou,  Seiiora  ?  "  said  the  Viceroy.  "  I 
sought  thee  unavailingly." 

"  Your  Highness/'  said  the  old  woman,  "  I  missed 
the  senorita  and  found  her  here." 

"  And  how  came  you  unbidden  into  my  private 
cabinet,  Don  Felipe  ?  " 

"  Your  Excellency,  Seiiora  Agapida  found  me  in 
the  corridor.  She  was  distraught  over  her  lady's  ab 
sence.  We  knocked.  There  was  no  answer.  We 
entered.  I  crave  your  pardon,  but  it  was  well  I 
came,  for  I  found  my  betrothed  and  my  best  friend 
alone,  together,  here/'  he  pointed  gloomily.  "  A 
Spanish  gentleman  alone  at  this  hour  of  the  night 


"  Silence  !  "  thundered  the  Viceroy.  "  Would'st 
asperse  my  daughter's  name  ?  Darest  thou  —  By 
heaven,  you  hold  a  weapon  in  your  hand.  I  am  old 
but—  Guard  thyself  !  "  he  called,  whipping  out  his 
sword  with  astonishing  agility. 

"  I  can  not  fight  with  you,"  said  de  Tobar  lower 
ing  his  point,  "  but  for  God's  sake,  explain  !  " 

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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  The  Donna  Mercedes  is  as  pure  as  heaven," 
asserted  Alvarado. 

"  Then  why  did  you  bid  me  strike  and  stand  de 
fenseless  a  moment  since  ?  " 

"  Because  I  love  her  and  she  is  yours.77 

"Death!"  shouted  de  Tobar.  "Take  up  thy 
sword !  77 

"  Stay/7  broke  in  the  old  Viceroy  quickly,  "  keep 
silent,  Alvarado,  let  me  tell  it  all.  I  am  her  father. 
I  would  consult  with  the  captain  upon  the  journey  of 
the  morrow  and  other  matters  of  state.  With  us 
here  was  my  daughter.  Is  there  aught  to  provoke 
thy  jealousy  or  rage  in  this  ?  Overcome  by — er — the 
events  of  the  day  she  fainted.  One  of  us  had  to  go 
for  aid.  7Twas  not  meet  that  the  young  man  should 
go  to  the  women's  apartments,  I  left  them  together.77 

"  Alone? 77  queried  de  Tobar. 

"  Ay,  alone.  One  was  my  daughter,  a  de  Lara, 
and  she  was  senseless.  The  other  was  almost  my 
son,  I  knew  him.  He  had  proved  himself.  I  could 
trust  him.77 

"  Your  Excellency,  I  thank  you,77  cried  Alvarado, 
seizing  the  hand  of  the  old  nobleman  and  carrying  it 
to  his  lips. 

"  You  said  you  loved  her,77  said  de  Tobar  turning 
to  Alvarado. 

"  And  so  I  do,77  answered  Alvarado,  "  but  who 
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could  help  it  ?  It  is  an  infection  I  have  caught  from 
my  friend." 

"  Have  you  spoken  words  of  love  to  her  ?  Have 
you  pleaded  with  her  ?  Did  you  meet  here  by  ap 
point?" 

"  Don  Felipe/5  cried  Donna  Mercedes,  who  had 
kept  silent  at  first  hardly  comprehending  and  then 
holding  her  breath  at  the  denouement.  "  Hear  me. 
Captain  Alvarado's  manner  to  me  has  been  coldness 
itself.  Nay,  he  scarcely  manifested  the  emotion  of  a 
friend." 

She  spoke  with  a  bitterness  and  resentment  pain 
fully  apparent  to  Alvarado,  but  which  in  his  be 
wilderment  Don  Felipe  did  not  discover. 

"  I  swear  to  you,  seilor,"  she  went  on  cunningly, 
"  until  this  hour  I  never  heard  him  say  those  words, 
'  I  love  you.7  But  this  scene  is  too  much  for  me,  I 
can  not  bear  it.  Help  me  hence.  Nay,  neither  of 
you  gentlemen.  With  Senora  Agapida's  aid  I  can 
manage.  Farewell.  When  you  wish  to  claim  me, 
Don  Felipe,  the  betrothal  shall  be  carried  out  and  I 
shall  be  yours.  Good-night." 

De  Tobar  sprang  after  her  and  caught  her  hand, 
raising  it  respectfully  to  his  lips. 

"  Now,  senor,"  he  cried  turning  back,  "  we  can 
discuss  this  question  unhindered  by  the  presence  of 
the  lady.  You  said  you  loved  her.  How  dare  you, 

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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


a  man  of  no  birth,  whose  very  name  is  an  assumption, 
lift  your  eyes  so  high?  " 

"  This  from  you,  my  friend,"  cried  Alvarado, 
turning  whiter  than  ever  at  this  insult. 

"  Sir,"  interposed  the  voice  of  the  Viceroy, 
"  restrain  yourself.  'Tis  true  we  know  not  the  birth 
or  name  of  this  young  man  whom  I  have  honored 
with  my  confidence,  upon  whom  you  have  bestowed 
your  friendship.  Perchance  it  may  be  nobler  than 
thine,  or  mine,  perchance  not  so,  but  he  hath  ever 
shown  himself — and  I  have  watched  him  from  his 
youth — a  gentleman,  a  Spanish  gentleman  whom  all 
might  emulate.  You  wrong  him  deeply 

"  But  he  loved  her." 

"  What  of  that  ?  "  answered  the  Viceroy. 

"  Ay,"  cried  Alvarado.  "  I  do  love  her,  and  that 
I  make  no  secret  of  it  from  you  proves  the  sincerity 
of  my  soul.  Who  could  help  loving  her,  and  much 
less  a  man  in  my  position,  for,  in  so  far  as  was  proper 
in  a  maiden,  she  has  been  kind  to  me  since  I  was  a 
boy.  I  cherish  no  hopes,  no  dreams,  no  ambitions. 
I  locked  my  passion  within  my  breast  and  determined 
to  keep  it  there  though  it  killed  me.  To-night,  with 
her  helpless  at  my  feet,  thrown  on  my  pity,  it  was 
wrung  from  me ;  but  I  swear  to  you  by  my  knightly 
honor,  by  that  friendship  that  hath  subsisted  between 
us  of  old,  that  from  this  hour  those  words  shall  never 

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pass  my  lips  again;  that  from  this  hour  I  shall  be  as 
silent  as  before.  Oh,  trust  me !  I  am  sadly  torn. 
Thou  hast  all,  I  nothing !  If  thou  canst  not  trust  me 
— I  bade  you  strike  before,  strike  now  and  end  it  all. 
What  supports  life  when  love  is  denied  ?  Friendship 
and  duty.  If  these  be  taken  from  me,  I  am  poor  in 
deed,  and  Td  liefer  die  than  live  in  shame.  Your 
Excellency,  bid  him  strike. " 

"  Thy  life  is  not  thine,"  answered  the  older  man, 
"  it  belongs  to  Spain.  We  have  fallen  on  evil  times 
and  thy  country  needs  thine  arm.  Thou  hast  said 
aright.  Seiior  de  Tobar,"  he  cried,  "  he  is  thy  friend. 
Take  him  back  to  thy  affection.  I  am  an  old  man 
and  a  father,  but  were  I  young  and  one  so  beautiful 
crossed  my  path  as  Donna  Mercedes — by  Our  Lady 
he  hath  excuse  for  anything!  He  speaks  the  truth, 
though  it  be  to  his  own  hurt.  Canst  stand  unmoved, 
seiior,  in  thy  happiness  before  such  misery  as  that  ?  " 

"  Dominique,  forgive  me !  "  cried  de  Tobar,  "  I 
was  wrong.  I  am  ashamed.  Thou  couldst  not  help 
it.  I  forgive  thee.  I  love  thee  still." 

He  made  as  if  to  embrace  his  friend,  but  Alvarado 
held  him  off. 

"  Wilt  trust  me  fully,  absolutely,  entirely? " 

"  With  all  my  life,"  answered  de  Tobar. 

"  Thou  shalt  be  tried,"  said  the  Viceroy.  "  We 
march  toward  the  Orinoco  in  three  days.  I  had  pro- 

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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


posed  to  establish  Donna  Mercedes  at  La  Guayra 
under  care  of  Alvarado." 

"  Not  now,  your  Excellency/'  cried  the  young 
man. 

"  Nay,  I  shall,  provided  de  Tobar  is  willing." 

"  A  test,  a  test !  "  answered  that  young  man. 
"  Gladly  do  I  welcome  it.  As  thou  lovest  me,  and 
as  I  love  thee,  guard  thou  my  betrothed." 

"  Your  Excellency,  take  me  with  you  to  the  Orin 
oco,  and  let  Don  Felipe  stay  at  home  with  Donna 
Mercedes  in  La  Guayra." 

"  I  am  no  experienced  soldier  to  command  a 
town,"  protested  de  Tobar. 

"  Nay,"  said  the  Viceroy,  "  it  shall  be  as  we  have 
said.  Wilt  take  the  charge  ?  " 

"  Ay,  and  defend  it  with  all  my  soul !  "  answered 
Alvarado  firmly. 

"  Seflor  Alvarado  and  Don  Felipe,  you  have  shown 
yourselves  true  Spanish  gentlemen  this  night,  hidal 
gos  of  whom  Spain  may  well  be  proud,"  cried  the 
Viceroy  in  pleased  and  proud  content.  "  To  you,  de 
Tobar,  I  shall  give  my  daughter  with  assurance  and 
pride,  and  were  there  another  to  bear  my  name  I 
could  wish  no  better  husband  for  her  than  you,  my 
poor  friend.  Now,  the  hour  is  late,  I  have  much  to 
say  to  Alvarado.  Don  Felipe,  you  will  pardon  me? 
Good-night." 

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"  Good-night,  your  Excellency/'7  promptly  re 
turned  de  Tobar.  "  I  shall  see  you  in  the  morning, 
Dominique,  ere  you  set  forth  for  La  Guayra.  I  love 
thee  and  trust  thee,  my  friend." 


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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XII 

SHOWS  HOW  DONNA  MERCEDES  CHOSE  DEATH  RATHER  THAN 

GIVE    UP    CAPTAIN    ALVARADO,    AND    WHAT    BEFELL 

THEM  ON  THE  ROAD  OVER  THE  MOUNTAINS 


HEY  set  forth  early  in  the  morning. 
There  was  a  cool  freshness  in  the  air 
from  the  storm  of  the  day  before  and  if 
they  wished  to  avoid  the  necessity  of 
traveling  in  the  heat  of 
the  day  early  departure 
was  necessary.  Although 
the  season  was  summer 
in  a  tropic  land  not  far 
from  the  equator,  the  al 
titude  of  Caracas  lowered 
the  ordinary  temperature 
to  an  agreeable  degree, 
but  after  they  crossed 
the  pass  of  La  Veta  and 


began  the  descent  toward  La  Guayra  they  would  be 
within  the  confines  of  one  of  the  hottest  localities  on 
the  face  of  the  globe. 

Early  as  it  was,  the  Viceroy  and  his  officers,  in- 
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eluding,  of  course,  de  Tobar,  were  assembled  in  the 
patio  to  bid  the  travelers  godspeed.  While  de  Lara 
gave  a  few  parting  directions  to  Alvarado,  Don 
Felipe  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  and  of  his 
position  as  the  publicly  affianced  of  Donna  Mercedes 
to  address  her  a  few  words  in  farewell,  which  she 
received  with  listless  indifference  that  did  not  bode 
well  for  the  future  happiness  of  either  of  them.  The 
final  preparations  were  soon  over.  Don  Felipe  lifted 
Donna  Mercedes  to  the  saddle  of  her  Spanish  jennet; 
some  of  the  other  gentlemen  assisted  the  Senora 
Agapida  to  the  back  of  the  sure-footed  mule  which 
she  had  elected  as  her  mount;  Alvarado  saluted  and 
sprang  to  the  back  of  his  mettlesome  barb,  and,  fol 
lowed  by  a  half-dozen  troopers  who  constituted  the 
escort,  the  rear  being  brought  up  by  servants  with 
pack  mules  carrying  the  personal  baggage  of  the  two 
ladies,  the  little  cavalcade  moved  off,  the  gentlemen 
in  the  Viceroy's  suite  standing  bareheaded  in  the 
doorway  as  they  disappeared  under  the  trees  and  be 
gan  the  ascent  toward  the  pass. 

With  the  whispered  assurance  of  his  friend,  "  I 
trust  you,"  still  ringing  in  his  ear,  with  the  sound  of 
the  Viceroy's  stern  voice,  "  I  know  not  what  danger 
could  befall  my  child  in  this  peaceful  time,  but  I 
have  a  premonition  that  something  threatens,  and  I 
charge  you  to  guard  her  welfare  and  happiness  with 

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SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


your  life,"  still  fresh  in  his  mind,  Alvarado,  whose 
white,  haggard  face  showed  that  he  had  passed  a 
sleepless  night,  rode  at  the  head  of  the  column. 
Some  distance  in  front  of  him  rode  a  trooper,  for 
there  were  even  then  thieves,  wandering  bands  of 
masterless  men  who  levied  bloody  toll  on  travelers 
from  the  capitol  whenever  they  got  opportunity. 
Next  to  the  captain  came  the  sergeant  of  the  little 
guard,  then  the  two  women,  followed  closely  by  two 
more  of  the  soldiers,  after  that  the  little  pack  train, 
which  he  had  ordered  to  close  up  and  keep  in  touch 
after  they  left  the  city,  and,  last  of  all,  the  two  re 
maining  soldiers  to  bring  up  the  rear. 

The  soldiers,  servants,  and  muleteers  were  in  high 
spirits.  There  was  little  danger  to  be  apprehended, 
for  the  party  was  too  strong  to  fear  attack  from  any 
of  the  brigand  bodies,  and  the  military  order  of 
march  was  taken  more  as  a  matter  of  habit  than  from 
any  special  need.  The  day  was  pleasant,  the  scenery, 
though  familiar,  was  at  the  same  time  grand  and 
beautiful,  and  they  were  happy — all,  that  is,  except 
Donna  Mercedes,  the  duenna,  and  Alvarado. 

The  worthy  Senora  Agapida  with  womanly 
shrewdness  more  than  suspected  the  true  state  of 
affairs.  Indeed,  Mercedes,  who  loved  the  old  woman, 
who  had  been  as  a  mother  to  her,  her  own  mother 
having  died  when  she  was  a  mere  child,  had  scarcely 

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taken  the  trouble  to  conceal  her  misery,  and  the  old 
woman's  heart  was  wrung  whenever  she  looked  at 
the  drooping  figure  at  her  side.  She  would  fain  have 
brought  the  flush  of  happiness  to  the  face  of  the  girl 
she  loved,  by  throwing  her  into  the  arms  of  Alvar- 
ado;  but,  as  a  distant  connection  of  the  de  Laras  her 
self,  the  worthy  dame  had  her  own  notions  of  pride, 
and  her  honor  would  not  permit  her  to  do  anything 
for  which  the  Viceroy  could  properly  fault  her.  The 
ancient  duenna  was  an  indifferent  horsewoman,  too, 
and  although  she  had  the  easiest  and  surest  footed 
beast  of  the  party  she  journeyed  with  many  sighs  and 
groans  of  dissatisfaction.  She  bravely  made  an  effort 
at  first  to  cheer  up  her  charge,  but  soon  perceived 
that  the  task  was  beyond  her  powers,  so  she  rode 
along  in  a  silence  unbroken  save  by  her  frequent 
ejaculations. 

When  Mercedes  had  met  Alvarado  early  in  the 
morning  she  had  acknowledged  his  profound  saluta 
tion  with  the  curtest  and  coldest  of  nods.  She  was 
furiously  and  bitterly  angry  with  him ;  for,  between 
duty,  honor,  friendship,  and  her  love,  he  had  not 
chosen  her.  She  knew  that  he  loved  her.  She  had 
known  it  a  long  time,  and,  if  she  had  the  slightest 
doubt,  the  sincerity  with  which  he  had  spoken  the 
night  before,  the  fierce,  passionate  fervor  of  the 
kisses  that  he  had  pressed  upon  her  lips,  his  utter 

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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


abandonment  to  his  passion,  had  more  than  satisfied 
her.  Yet,  when  she  had  offered  to  throw  everything 
to  the  winds — love,  duty,  obedience,  if  he  would  only 
take  her  away — he  had  hesitated.  With  her,  a 
woman  who  had  all  Venezuela  at  her  feet,  held  in  his 
arms,  he  had  repulsed  her,  refused  her!  He  had 
heard  the  open  confession  of  her  overwhelming  love 
for  him,  and  he  had  resisted  her !  With  the  feel  of 
her  heart  beating  against  his  own,  he  had  strained 
her  to  his  breast  and  prated  of  honor  and  duty ! 

She  was  mad  with  anger  and  disappointment.  She 
loathed  him ;  she  hated  him ;  she  raged  against  him 
in  her  heart.  Why  had  he  not  killed  de  Tobar  where 
he  stood,  seized  her  in  his  arms,  braved  the  anger  of 
her  father,  and  galloped  away — anywhere  out  into 
the  mysterious  southland  where  they  could  be  to 
gether?  Well  and  good,  she  would  marry  Don 
Felipe.  She  would  assume  a  happiness  that  she 
could  not  feel  and  kill  him  with  the  sight  of  it.  He 
had  disdained  her ;  he  should  suffer,  suffer  in  propor 
tion  to  his  love,  such  torments  as  he  had  made  her 
suffer  last  night — shame,  disappointment,  indigna 
tion. 

She  had  not  slept  the  entire  night,  either,  thinking 
these  things,  yet  it  had  not  all  been  pain.  How  nobly 
he  had  lied  to  save  her !  He,  to  whom  a  lie  was 
worse  than  death.  He  had  tried  to  assume  dishonor 

204 


BUCCANEER 


for  her  sake.  He  loved  her;  yes,  there  was  no 
doubt  of  it.  She  closed  her  eyes  with  the  thought 
and  her  whole  being  wras  filled  with  exquisite  anguish. 
He  loved  her,  he  was  made  for  her,  yet  when  he 
might  have  taken  her  he  refused.  De  Tobar  was 
indeed  a  brave  and  gallant  gentleman,  but  his  qual 
ities  were  as  moonlight  to  the  sunlight  compared  to 
those  of  Alvarado.  In  spite  of  herself,  though  the 
mere  suggestion  of  it  angered  her,  she  found  herself 
obliged  to  grant  that  there  was  something  noble  in 
that  position  he  had  assumed  which  so  filled  her  with 
fury.  It  was  not,  with  him,  a  question  of  loving 
duty  and  honor  more  than  herself,  but  it  was  a  ques 
tion  of  doing  duty  and  preserving  honor,  though  the 
heart  broke  and  the  soul  was  rent  in  the  effort. 

Because  he  had  the  strength  to  do  these  things, 
not  to  betray  his  friend,  not  to  return  ingratitude  to 
her  father,  who  had  been  a  father  to  him  too,  not  to 
be  false  to  his  military  honor;  because  he  had  the 
strength  to  control  himself,  she  felt  dimly  how  strong 
his  passion  might  be.  In  spite  of  her  careful  avoid 
ance  of  his  eyes,  her  cold  demeanor,  that  morning, 
she  had  marked  the  haggard,  pale  face  of  the  young 
soldier  to  whom  she  had  given  her  heart,  which 
showed  that  he,  too,  had  suffered.  She  watched  him 
as  he  rode,  superb  horseman  that  he  was,  at  the  head 
of  the  little  cavalcade.  Tall,  straight,  erect,  grace- 

205 


SJR    HENRT  MORGAN 


ful?  she  was  glad  that  he  rode  in  advance  with  his 
back  to  her,  so  that  she  might  follow  him  with  her 
eyes,  her  gaze  unheeded  by  any  but  Senora  Agapida, 
and  for  her  she  did  not  care. 

As  he  turned  at  intervals  to  survey  his  charges,  to 
see  that  all  were  keeping  closed  up  and  in  order,  by 
furtive  glances  she  could  mark  with  exultation  the 
pallor  that  had  taken  the  place  of  the  ruddy  hue  on 
the  fair  cheek  of  her  lover.  She  could  even  note  the 
black  circles  under  the  blue  eyes  beneath  the  sunny 
hair,  so  different  from  her  own  midnight  crown. 

How  this  man  loved  her!  She  could  see,  and 
know,  and  feel.  Great  as  was  her  own  passion,  it  did 
not  outweigh  his  feeling.  A  tempest  was  raging  in 
his  bosom.  The  girl  who  watched  him  could  mark 
the  progress  of  the  storm  in  the  deeps  of  his  soul,  for 
his  face  told  the  tale  of  it. 

And,  indeed,  his  thoughts  were  bitter.  What 
must  she  think  of  him  ?  He  had  been  a  fool.  Happi 
ness  had  been  his  for  the  taking,  and  he  had  thrown 
it  away.  Why  had  he  not  brushed  de  Tobar  out  of 
his  path,  silenced  the  Viceroy — no,  not  by  death,  but 
by  binding  him  fast,  and  then  taken  the  woman  he 
loved  and  who  loved  him,  for  she  had  proved  it  by 
her  utter  abandonraent  of  herself  to  him?  Those 
old  soldiers  who  had  served  him  for  many  years 
would  have  followed  him  wherever  he  led.  The 

206 


BUCCANEER 


Viceroy's  arm  was  long,  but  they  could  have  found 
a  haven  where  they  could  have  been  together.  God 
had  made  them  for  each  other  and  he  had  refused. 
He  had  thrust  her  aside.  He  had  pushed  the  cup  of 
happiness  from  his  own  lips  with  his  own  hand. 

Honor  was  a  name,  duty  an  abstraction,  gratitude 
a  folly.  What  must  she  think  of  him?  There  had 
been  no  reservation  in  her  declaration  of  affection. 
For  him  she  was  willing  to  give  up  all,  and  though 
he  had  vowed  and  protested  in  his  heart  that  there 
was  nothing  she  could  ask  of  him  that  he  would  not 
grant  her,  he  had  been  able  to  do  nothing  after  all. 

He  wished  it  was  all  to  do  over  again.  Now  it  was 
too  late.  To  the  chains  of  duty,  honor,  gratitude, 
had  been  added  that  of  his  plighted  word.  Knowing 
his  love,  de  Tobar,  his  friend,  had  trusted  him. 
Knowing  his  daughter's  love,  the  Viceroy  had  also 
trusted  him.  He  was  locked  with  fetters,  bound  and 
sealed,  helpless.  And  yet  the  temptation  grew  with 
each  hour.  He  had  suspected,  he  had  dreamed,  he 
had  hoped,  that  Mercedes  loved  him,  now  he  was  sure 
of  it.  Oh,  what  happiness  might  have  been  his ! 

What  was  this  mystry  about  his  birth?  He  had 
been  picked  up  a  baby  in  a  deserted  village  outside  of 
Panama.  He  had  been  found  by  the  young  Count 
de  Lara,  who  had  led  his  troops  to  the  succor  of  that 
doomed  town,  which,  unfortunately,  he  had  only 

207 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


reached  after  the  buccaneers  had  departed.  Search 
had  been  made  for  his  parents  but  without  success. 
The  Viceroy  finding  none  to  claim  the  bright-faced 
baby,  had  given  him  a  name  and  had  caused  him  to 
be  brought  up  in  his  own  household.  There  was 
nothing  in  his  apparel  to  distinguish  him  save  the 
exquisite  fineness  and  richness  of  the  material. 
Thrown  around  his  neck  had  been  a  curiously 
wrought  silver  crucifix  on  a  silver  chain,  and  that 
crucifix  he  had  worn  ever  since.  It  lay  upon  his 
breast  beneath  his  clothing  now.  It  was  the  sole  ob 
ject  which  connected  him  with  his  past. 

Who  had  been  his  father,  his  mother?  How  had 
a  baby  so  richly  dressed  come  to  be  abandoned  in  a 
small  obscure  village  outside  the  walls  of  Panama, 
which  would  have  escaped  the  ravages  of  the  buc 
caneers  on  account  of  its  insignificance,  had  it  not 
lain  directly  in  their  backward  path.  They  had 
destroyed  it  out  of  mere  wantonness. 

And  there  was  another  thought  wrhich  often  came 
to  him  and  caused  his  cheeks  to  burn  with  horror. 
If,  as  his  clothing  had  indicated,  he  had  been  the 
child  of  wealth,  did  not  his  obscure  position  indicate 
that  he  was  at  the  same  time  the  child  of  shame? 

Since  he  had  reached  man's  estate  he  had  thought 
of  these  things  often  and  had  prayed  that  in  some 
way,  at  some  time,  the  mystery  might  be  solved,  for 

208 


BUCCANEER 


the  suspense  was  worse  than  any  assurance,  how 
ever  dreadful.  He  had  often  thought  with  longing 
upon  his  father,  his  mother.  This  morning  in  the 
bitterness  of  his  heart  he  cursed  them  for  the  situa 
tion  in  which  he  found  himself.  He  despaired  at 
last  of  ever  finding  out  anything.  What  mattered 
it  now?  He  might  be  of  the  proudest  and  most 
honorable  lineage  in  !N"ew  Spain,  a  Soto-Mayor,  a 
Bobadilla,  even  a  de  Guzman.  It  would  advantage 
him  nothing  since  he  had  lost  Mercedes.  In  spite 
of  himself  he  groaned  aloud,  and  the  girl  riding  a 
little  distance  behind  him  heard  the  sound  of  an 
guish  in  his  voice. 

Her  heart,  which  had  been  yearning  toward  him 
with  increasing  force,  was  stirred  within  her  bosom. 

"  Hide  thou  here,"  she  said  suddenly  to  Senora 
Agapida,  "  I  go  forward  to  speak  with  Captain  Al- 
varado." 

"  But,  senorita,  thy  father— 

"  Is  it  not  permitted  that  I  speak  with  the  captain 
of  the  soldiery  who  escort  me  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  if  I  am  by." 

"  I  do  not  choose  to  have  it  so,"  replied  Mercedes, 
with  all  the  haughtiness  of  her  father.  "  Eemain 
here.  I  will  return  presently." 

Brushing  her  aside  with  an  imperious  wave  of  her 
hand  and  a  threatening  glance  before  which  the 

209 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


poor  duenna  quailed,  for  her  charge  had  never 
shown  such  spirit  before,  Mercedes  struck  her  Span 
ish  jennet  with  the  whip  she  carried,  passed  around 
the  intervening  soldier,  who  courteously  gave  way 
to  her,  and  reined  in  her  steed  by  Alvarado's  horse. 
So  close,  indeed,  was  she  to  the  captain  that  she 
almost  touched  him.  It  was  good  to  see  the  light 
leap  in  his  eyes,  the  flush  come  into  his  pale  cheek 
as  he  became  aware  of  her  presence. 

"  Donna  Mercedes !  "  he  cried  in  surprise.  "  Is 
anything  wrong  ?  Where  is  the  Senora  Agapida  ?  " 

"  Nothing  is  wrong.     I  left  her  there." 

"Shall  I  summon  her?" 

"  Art  afraid  to  speak  to  me,  to  a  woman,  alone, 
sir  captain  ? " 

"  Kay,  senorita,  but  'tis  unseemly— 

"  Wouldst  thou  lesson  me  in  manners,  master  sol 
dier  ? "  cried  the  girl  haughtily. 

"  God  forbid,  lady,  but  thy  father— 

"  He  laid  no  injunction  upon  me  that  I  should  not 
speak  to  you,  sir.  Is  that  forbidden  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not,  but— 

"  But  what,  sir  ?  It  is  your  own  weakness  you 
fear?  You  were  strong  enough  last  night.  Have 
you,  by  chance — repented  ?  " 

There  was  such  a  passionate  eagerness  in  her 
voice,  and  such  a  leaping  hope  for  an  affirmative 

210 


BUCCANEER 


answer  in  the  glance  she  bent  upon  him,  that  he 
could  scarce  sustain  the  shock  of  it.  His  whole 
soul  had  risen  to  meet  hers,  coming  as  she  came. 
He  trembled  at  her  propinquity.  The  voice  of  the 
girl  thrilled  him  as  never  before. 

The  sergeant  who  followed  them,  out  of  respect 
for  their  confidences  checked  the  pace  of  his  troop 
horse  somewhat  and  the  two  advanced  some  distance 
from  him  out  of  earshot.  The  unhappy  duenna 
watched  them  with  anxious  eyes,  but  hesitated  to 
attempt  to  join  them.  Indeed,  the  way  was  blocked 
for  such  an  indifferent  horsewoman  as  she  by  the 
adroit  manoeuvres  of  the  sergeant.  He  was  devoted 
to  his  young  commander  and  he  had  surmised  the 
state  of  affairs  also.  He  would  have  had  no  scruples 
whatever  in  facilitating  a  meeting,  even  an  elope 
ment.  The  two  lovers,  therefore,  could  speak  un 
observed,  or  at  least  unheard  by  any  stranger. 

"  Lady,"  said  Alvarado  at  last,  "  I  am  indeed 
afraid.  You  make  the  strong,  weak.  Your  beauty 
— forgive  me — masters  me.  For  God's  sake,  for 
Christ,  His  Mother,  tempt  me  not !  I  can  stand  no 
more — "  he  burst  forth  with  vehemence. 

"  What  troubles  thee,  Alvarado  ? "  she  said 
softly. 

"  Thou — and  my  plighted  word." 

"  You  chose  honor  and  duty  last  night  when  you 
211 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


might  have  had  me.     Art  still  in  the  same  mind  ?  " 

"  Senorita,  this  subject  is  forbidden." 

"  Stop !  "  cried  the  girl,  "  I  absolve  you  from  all 
injunctions  of  silence.  I,  too,  am  a  de  Lara,  and  in 
my  father's  absence  the  head  of  the  house.  The 
duty  thou  hast  sworn  to  him  thou  owest  me.  Art 
still  in  the  same  mind  as  last  night,  I  say  ? " 
'  "  Last  night  I  was  a  fool !  " 

"  And  this  morning  ?  " 

"  I  am  a  slave." 

"  A  slave  to  what?     To  whom?  " 

"  Donna  Mercedes,"  he  cried,  turning  an  implor 
ing  glance  upon  her,  "  press  me  no  further.  Indeed, 
the  burden  is  greater  than  I  can  bear." 

"  A  slave  to  whom  ?  "  she  went  on  insistently, 
seeing  an  advantage  and  pressing  it  hard.  She  was 
determined  that  she  would  have  an  answer.  RTo  con 
viction  of  duty  or  feeling  of  filial  regard  was  strong 
enough  to  overwhelm  love  in  this  woman's  heart. 
As  she  spoke  she  flashed  upon  him  her  most  brilliant 
glance  and  by  a  deft  movement  of  her  bridle  hand 
swerved  the  jennet  in  closer  to  his  barb.  She  laid 
her  hand  upon  his  strong  arm  and  bent  her  head 
close  toward  him.  They  were  far  from  the  others 
now  and  the  turns  of  the  winding  road  concealed 
them. 


212 


BUCCANEER 


"  A  slave  to  whom  ?  Perhaps  to — me  ?  "  she 
whispered. 

"  Have  mercy  on  me  !  "  he  cried.  "  To  you  ? 
Yes.  But  honor,  duty— 

"  Again  those  hateful  words !  "  she  interrupted, 
her  dark  face  flushing  with  anger.  "  Were  I  a  man, 
loved  I  a  woman  who  loved  me  as  I — as  I — as  one 
you  know,  I  would  have  seized  her  in  spite  of  all  the 
world !  Once  she  had  fled  to  the  shelter  of  iny  arms, 
while  life  beat  in  my  heart  none  should  tear  her 
thence." 

"  Thy  father " 

"  He  thinks  not  of  my  happiness." 

"  Say  not  so,  Donna  Mercedes." 

"  7Tis  true.  It  is  a  matter  of  convenient  arrange 
ment.  Two  ancient  names,  two  great  fortunes  cry 
aloud  for  union  and  they  drown  the  voice  of  the 
heart.  I  am  bestowed  like  a  chattel." 

"  Don  Felipe " 

"  Is  an  honorable  gentleman,  a  brave  one.  He 
needs  no  defense  at  my  hands.  That  much,  at  least, 
my  father  did.  There  is  no  objection  to  my  suitor 
save  that  I  do  not  love  him." 

"  In  time — in  time  you  may,"  gasped  Alvarado. 

"  Dost  thou  look  within  thine  own  heart  and  see  a 
fancy  so  evanescent  that  thou  speakest  thus  to  me  ?  " 

"  Nay,  not  so." 

213 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  I  believe  thee,  and  were  a  thousand  years  to  roll 
over  my  head  thine  image  would  still  be  found 
here." 

She  laid  her  tiny  gloved  hand  upon  her  breast  as 
she  spoke  in  a  low  voice,  and  this  time  she  looked 
away  from  him.  He  would  have  given  heaven  and 
earth  to  have  caught  her  yielding  figure  in  his  arms. 
She  drooped  in  the  saddle  beside  him  in  a  pose  which 
was  a  confession  of  womanly  weakness  and  she 
swayed  toward  him  as  if  the  heart  in  her  body  cried 
out  to  that  which  beat  in  his  own  breast. 

"Mercedes!  Mercedes!"  he  said,  "you  torture 
me  beyond  endurance !  Go  back  to  your  duenna,  to 
Sefiora  Agapida,  I  beg  of  you !  I  can  stand  no 
more!  I  did  promise  and  vow  in  my  heart — my 
honor — my  duty— 

"  Ay,  with  men  it  is  different/7  said  the  girl,  and 
the  sound  of  a  sob  in  her  voice  cut  him  to  the  heart, 
"  and  these  things  are  above  love,  above  everything. 
I  do  not — I  can  not  understand.  I  can  not  compre 
hend.  You  have  rejected  me — I  have  offered  my 
self  to  you  a  second  time — after  the  refusal  of  last 
night.  Where  is  my  Spanish  pride  ?  Where  is  my 
maidenly  modesty  ?  That  reserve  that  should  be  the 
better  part  of  woman  is  gone.  I  know  not  honor — 
duty — I  only  know  that  though  you  reject  me,  I  am 
yours.  I,  too,  am  a  slave.  I  love  you.  Nay,  I 

214 


Alvarado  threw  his  right  arm  around  her,  and  with  a  force 
superhuman  dragged  her  from  the  saddle. 


BUCCANEER 


can  not  marry  Don  Felipe  de   Tobar.      'Twere  to 
make  a  sacrilege  of  a  sacrament." 

"  Thy  father " 

"  I  have  done  my  best  to  obey  him.  I  can  no 
more." 

"What  wilt  thou  do?" 

"  This !  "   cried  the  girl  desperately. 

The  road  at  the  point  they  had  arrived  wound 
sharply  around  the  spur  of  the  mountain  which  rose 
above  them  thousands  of  feet  on  one  side  and  fell 
abruptly  away  in  a  terrific  precipice  upon  the  other. 
As  she  spoke  she  struck  her  horse  again  with  the 
whip.  At  the  same  time  by  a  violent  wrench  on  the 
bridle  rein  she  turned  him  swiftly  toward  the  open 
cliff.  Quick  as  she  had  been,  however,  Alvarado's 
own  movement  was  quicker.  He  struck  spur  into 
his  powerful  barb  and  with  a  single  bound  was  by 
her  side,  in  the  very  nick  of  time.  Her  horse's  fore 
feet  were  slipping  among  the  loose  stones  on  the 
edge.  In  another  second  they  would  both  be  over. 
Alvarado  threw  his  right  arm  around  her  and  with 
a  force  superhuman  dragged  her  from  the  saddle,  at 
the  same  time  forcing  his  own  horse  violently  back 
ward  with  his  bridle  hand.  His  instant  promptness 
had  saved  her,  for  the  frightened  horse  she  rode, 
unable  to  control  himself,  plunged  down  the  cliff 
and  was  crushed  to  death  a  thousand  feet  below. 

217 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XIII 

IN  WHICH  CAPTAIN  ALVARADO  IS  FORSWORN  AND  WITH  DONNA 
MERCEDES  IN  HIS  ARMS  BREAKS  HIS  PLIGHTED  WORD 


Y     God !  "     cried    the     young     soldier 
hoarsely,   straining  her  to  his  breast, 
while  endeavoring  to  calm  his  nervous 
and  excited  horse.     "  What  would  you 
have  done  ?  " 

"  Why  didn't  you  let 
me  go?  "  she  asked,  strug 
gling  feebly  in  his  arms. 
"  It  would  all  have  been 
over  then." 

"  I  could  not,  I  love 
you." 

The  words  were  wrung 
from  him  in  spite  of  him 
self  by  her  deadly  peril, 


by  her  desperate  design  which  he  had  only  frus 
trated  by  superhuman  quickness  and  strength.  He 
was  pale,  shaking,  trembling,  unnerved,  for  her. 
He  scarce  knew  what  he  said  or  did,  so  little  com 
mand  had  he  over  himself. 

218 


BUCCANEER 


As  he  spoke  those  words  "  I  love  you/'  so  blissful 
for  her  to  hear,  she  slipped  her  arm  around  his 
neck.  It  was  not  in  mortal  man  to  resist  under  such 
circumstances.  He  forgot  everything — honor,  duty, 
his  word,  everything  he  threw  to  the  winds.  Before 
the  passion  which  sought  death  when  denied  him  his 
own  powers  of  resistance  vanished.  He  strained  her 
to  his  breast  and  bent  his  head  to  kiss  her.  Again 
and  again  he  drank  at  the  upturned  fountain  of 
affection,  her  lips.  The  shock  had  been  too  much 
for  him.  Greater  for  him  than  for  her.  He  had 
seen  her  upon  the  verge  of  eternity.  She  thought 
nothing  of  that  in  her  present  joy.  She  only  real 
ized  that  she  was  in  his  arms  again,  that  he  had 
kissed  her,  and  between  the  kisses  he  poured  out 
words  that  were  even  greater  caresses. 

The  others  were  far  behind.  They  were  alone 
upon  the  mountain-side  with  the  rocks  behind  and  the 
great  sapphire  sea  of  the  Caribbean  before  them. 
He  held  her  close  to  his  breast  and  they  forgot  every 
thing  but  love  as  they  gently  pricked  along  the  road. 
It  was  near  noon  now,  and  as  the  road  a  furlong 
farther  debouched  into  an  open  plateau  shaded  by 
trees  and  watered  by  a  running  brook  which  purled 
down  the  mountain-side  from  some  inaccessible  cloud- 
swept  height  it  was  a  fitting  place  to  make  camp, 
where  the  whole  party,  tired  by  a  long  morning's 

219 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


travel,  could  repose  themselves  until  the  breeze  of 
afternoon  tempered  the  heat  of  the  day.  Here  he  dis 
mounted,  lifted  her  from  horse,  and  they  stood  to 
gether,  side  by  side. 

"  You  have  saved  me,"  she  whispered,  "  you  have 
drawn  me  back  from  the  death  that  I  sought.  God 
has  given  me  to  you.  We  shall  never  be  parted." 

"  I  am  a  false  friend,  an  ungrateful  servitor,  a  for 
sworn  man,  a  perjured  soldier !  "  he  groaned,  passing 
his  hand  over  his  pale  brow  as  if  to  brush  away  the 
idea  consequent  upon  his  words. 

"  But  thou  hast  my  love,"  she  whispered  tenderly, 
swaying  toward  him  again. 

"  Yes — yes.  Would  that  it  could  crown  something 
else  than  my  dishonor." 

"  Say  not  so." 

She  kissed  him  again,  fain  to  dispel  the  shadow 
that  darkened  his  face. 

"  I  had  been  faithful,"  he  went  on,  as  if  in  justifica 
tion,  "  had  I  not  seen  thee  on  the  brink  of  that  cliff, 
and  then  thou  wert  in  my  arms — I  was  lost — 

"  And  I  was  found.  I  leaped  to  death.  I  shut  my 
eyes  as  I  drove  the  horse  toward  the  cliff,  and  I 
awakened  to  find  myself  in  your  arms — in  heaven ! 
Let  nothing  take  me  hence." 

"  It  can  not  be,"  he  said,  "  I  must  go  to  the  Vice- 


220 


BUCCANEER 


roy  when  he  returns  from  the  Orinoco  war,  and  tell 
him  that  I  have  betrayed  him." 

"  I  will  tell  him/7  she  answered,  "  or  wilt  thou  tell 
him  what  I  tell  thee  ?  "  she  went  on. 

"  Surely."  , 

"  Then  say  to  him  that  I  sought  death  rather  than 
be  given  to  Don  Felipe  or  to  any  one  else.  Tell  him 
you  saved  me  on  the  very  brink  of  the  cliff,  and  that 
never  soldier  made  a  better  fight  for  field  or  flag  than 
thou  didst  make  for  thy  honor  and  duty,  but  that  I 
broke  thee  down.  I  had  the  power,  and  I  used  it. 
The  story  is  as  old  as  Eden — the  woman  tempted — 

"  I  should  have  been  stronger — I  should  not  have 
weakened.  But  I  shall  fight  no  more — it  is  all  over." 

"  Ah,  thou  canst  not/'  she  whispered,  nestling 
closer  to  him.  "  And  tell  my  father  that  should  harm 
come  to  thee,  if,  in  their  anger,  he  or  de  Tobar  lay 
hand  upon  thee,  it  will  not  advantage  their  plans,  for 
I  swear,  if  there  be  no  other  way,  I  will  starve  my 
self  to  death  to  follow  thee !  " 

"  I  can  not  shelter  myself  behind  a  woman." 

"  Then  I  will  tell  them  both  myself,"  she  cried. 
"  You  shall  know,  they  shall  know,  how  a  Spanish 
woman  can  love." 

"  And  thou  shalt  know,  too,"  answered  Alvarado 
firmly,  "  that  though  I  break  my  heart,  I,  an  un 
known,  can  expatiate  his  guilt  with  all  the  pride  of 

221 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


most  ancient  lineage  and  birth  highest  of  them  all." 

It  was  a  brave  speech,  but  he  did  not  release  his 
hold  upon  Mercedes  and  in  spite  of  his  words  when, 
confident  that  whatever  he  might  say,  however  he 
might  struggle,  he  was  hers  at  last,  she.  smiled  up  at 
him  again,  he  kissed  her. 

"  When  go  you  to  my  father,  Sefior  Alvarado  ?  " 
she  asked. 

"  When  he  returns  from  the  Orinoco." 

"  And  that  will  not  be  until— 

"  Perhaps  a  month." 

"  Wilt  love  me  until  then  ?  " 

"  I  shall  love  thee  forever." 

"  Nay,  but  wilt  thou  tell  me  so,  with  every  day, 
every  week,  every  hour,  every  moment,  with  kisses 
like  to  these  ?  " 

"  Oh,  tempt  me  not !  "  he  whispered ;  but  he  re 
turned  again  and  again  her  caresses. 

"  Ah,  my  Alvarado,  if  you  have  once  fallen,  what 
then  ?  Is  not  one  kiss  as  bad  as  a  thousand  ?  " 

"  Be  it  so ;  we  will  be  happy  until  that  time." 

"  One  month,  one  month  of  heaven,  my  love,  after 
that  let  come  what  may,"  she  answered,  her  cheeks 
and  eyes  aflame,  her  heart  throbbing  with  exquisite 
pain  in  her  breast.  They  would  enjoy  the  day,  the 
future  could  take  care  of  itself. 

"  Some  one  approaches!  "  he  said  at  last,  and  at 


BUCCANEER 


the  same  moment  the  rest  of  the  party  came  around 
the  bend  of  the  road.  The  poor  duenna  was  con 
sumed  with  anxiety  and  remorse. 

"  Bernardo,"  said  Alvarado  to  the  sergeant,  "  we 
will  take  our  siesta  here.  Unsaddle  the  horses  and 
prepare  the  noon-day  meal  under  the  trees.  Send  one 
of  the  troopers  ahead  to  bid  Fadrique  stop  on  the  road 
until  we  rejoin  him,  keeping  good  guard.  Seiiora 
Agapida,  you  must  be  tired  from  the  long  ride.  Let 
me  assist  you  to  dismount." 

"  The  Sefiorita  Mercedes !  "  she  asked,  as  he  lifted 
her  to  the  ground.  "  Where  is  her  horse  ?  " 

"  He  slipped  and  fell,"  answered  the  girl  promptly. 

"Fell?    Madre  de  Dios  !  " 

"  Yes,  over  the  cliff.  Captain  Alvarado  lifted  me 
from  the  saddle  just  in  time." 

"  I  shall  make  a  novena  of  devotion  to  St.  Jago  for 
thy  preservation,  sweet  Mercedes,"  cried  the  duenna, 
"  and  you,  young  sir,  must  have  a  strong  arm— 

"  It  is  ever  at  your  service,"  answered  Alvarado 
gravely,  bowing  before  her. 

The  old  woman's  heart  went  out  to  the  gallant 
young  man,  so  handsome,  so  brave,  so  strong,  so  dis 
tinguished  looking. 

"  Why,"  she  mused  under  her  breath,  "  could  he 
not  have  been  the  one  ?  " 

By  this  time  the  little  place  was  filled  with  soldiers, 
223 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


attendants,  and  muleteers.  Some  kindled  fires,  others 
unpacked  hampers  loaded  with  provisions,  others  pre 
pared  a  place  where  the  party  might  rest,  and  as,  to 
restore  order  out  of  this  confusion,  Alvarado  turned 
hither  and  thither  he  was  followed  in  all  his  move 
ments  by  the  lovely  eyes  of  the  woman  who  had 
broken  him,  and  who  had  won  him. 

During  the  interval  of  repose  the  young  man 
allowed  his  party  the  two  lovers  were  constantly  to 
gether.  Alvarado  had  made  a  faint  effort  to  go  apart 
and  leave  Mercedes  to  herself,  but  with  passionate 
determination  she  had  refused  to  allow  it.  She  had 
thrown  prudence  to  the  winds.  Careless  of  whoever 
might  see,  of  whoever  might  comment,  heedless  of 
the  reproving  duenna,  indifferent  to  ancient  practice, 
reckless  of  curious  glances,  she  had  insisted  upon 
accompanying  the  captain  and  he  had  yielded.  He 
was  doomed  in  his  own  soul  to  death.  He  intended 
to  tell  the  Viceroy  and  de  Tobar  everything,  and  he 
had  no  doubt  that  one  or  the  other  would  instantly 
kill  him.  It  was  a  fate  to  which  he  would  make  no 
resistance.  Meanwhile  he  would  enjoy  the  day. 
There  was  a  melancholy  pleasure,  too,  in  the  thought, 
for  this  morning  had  assured  him  of  it,  that  whatever 
awaited  him  Mercedes  would  belong  to  no  one  else. 
If  they  killed  him  she  had  sworn  that  she  would  not 
survive  him.  If  they  strove  to  force  her  into  the 

224 


BUCCANEER 


arms  of  another,  she  had  declared  she  would  die 
rather  than  comply,  and  he  believed  her. 

Other  women  in  like  circumstances  might  have 
resorted  to  a  convent,  but  Mercedes  was  not  of  the 
temperament  which  makes  that  calm  harbor  an  in 
viting  refuge.  If  she  could  not  have  Alvarado,  she 
would  simply  die — that  was  all.  Under  the  circum 
stances,  therefore,  as  he  had  already  forfeited  his 
own  esteem,  he  hesitated  no  more.  Indeed,  before 
the  passion  of  the  woman  he  loved,  who  loved  him, 
it  was  not  possible.  In  her  presence  he  could  do 
nothing  else.  They  abandoned  themselves  with  all 
the  fervor  of  youth  and  passion  to  their  transports  of 
affection.  They  wandered  away  from  the  others  and 
by  the  side  of  the  brook  beneath  the  shelter  of  the 
trees  remained  together  and  whispered  all  the  love 
that  beat  within  their  freed  breasts.  They  might  die 
to-morrow,  to-day  they  lived  and  loved.  Fain  would 
they  have  prolonged  the  Elysian  dream  forever,  but 
the  descending  sun  of  the  afternoon  at  last  warned 
Alvarado,  if  they  would  reach  La  Guayra  that  night, 
that  they  must  resume  their  journey.  Keluctantly  he 
gave  the  order  to  mount. 

This  time,  utterly  indifferent  to  the  Seiiora  Aga- 
pida,  Mercedes,  mounted  on  one  of  the  led  horses, 
rode  openly  by  Alvarado's  side.  Sustained  by  his 
presence,  constantly  in  touch  with  him,  she  made  the 

225 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


way  down  the  difficult  wanderings  of  the  rocky  moun 
tain  trail.  They  watched  the  sun  set  in  all  its  glory 
over  the  tropic  sea.  The  evening  breeze  blew  softly 
about  them  riding  side  by  side.  Then  the  night  fell 
upon  them.  Over  them  blazed  the  glorious  canopy  of 
the  tropic  stars,  chief  among  them  the  fiery  Southern 
Cross,  emblem  of  the  faith  they  cherished,  the  most 
marvelous  diadem  in  the  heavens.  There  below  them 
twinkled  the  lights  of  La  Guayra.  The  road  grew 
broader  and  smoother  now.  It  was  almost  at  the  level 
of  the  beach.  They  would  have  to  pass  through  the 
town  presently,  and  thence  up  a  steep  rocky  road 
which  wound  around  the  mountain  until  they  sur 
mounted  the  cliff  back  of  the  city  and  arrived  at  the 
palace  of  the  Governor  upon  the  hillside,  where  Mer 
cedes  was  to  lodge.  An  hour,  at  least,  would  bring 
them  to  their  destination  now.  There  was  nothing  to 
apprehend.  The  brigands  in  the  fastnesses  of  the 
mountains  or  the  savages,  who  sometimes  strayed 
along  the  road,  never  ventured  so  near  the  town. 

Fadrique,  by  Alvarado's  orders,  had  fallen  back 
nearer  the  main  body  so  as  to  be  within  call. 

"  We  shall  be  there  in  a  little  while.  See  yonder, 
the  lights  of  the  town,"  said  the  captain. 

"  While  thou  art  with  me,"  said  the  girl,  "  it  mat 
ters  little  where  we  are.  There  are  but  two  places  in 
the  world  now " 


LUCCANEER 


"And  those  are ?" 

"  Where  thou  art  and  where  thou  art  not.  If  I 
may  only  be  with  thee,  if  we  may  be  together,  I  want 
nothing  else." 

She  had  scarcely  spoken  before  the  sound  of  a  cry 
followed  bTr  a  shot  broke  on  the  night. 


227 


BOOK   IV 

IN  WHICH  IS  RELATED  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  TAKING 

OF  LA  GUAYRA  BY  THE  BUCCANEERS  AND  THE 

DREADFUL    PERILS    OF    DONNA    MERCEDES 

DE  LARA  AND  CAPTAIN  ALVARADO  IN 

THAT  CITY 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   XIV 

WHEREIN  THE  CREW  OF  THE  GALLEON  INTERCEPTS  THE 
TWO  LOVERS  BY  THE  WAY 

HE  terrific  impact  of  the  huge  ship  on  the 
sand  among  the  breakers  which  thun 
dered  and  beat  upon  her  sides  with 
overwhelming  force  came  just  in  the 
nick  of  time  for  Morgan.  Had  the  disaster  been  de 
layed- a  second  longer  the  furious  buccaneers  would 
have  cut  him  down  where  he  stood.  Even  the  officers 
were  angered  beyond  measure  at  him  for  their  pres 
ent  situation,  which  threatened  the  loss  of  the  vast 
treasure  already  gained  in  the  ship,  although  they 
had  consented  to  Morgan's  proposition  to  attack  La 
Guayra  and  Caracas,  and  the  captain  was  in  no  way 
responsible  for  the  storm  and  the  wreck  which 
jeoparded  their  booty  and  their  future.  Therefore 
it  is  probable  that  none  of  them,  unless  it  were 
Teach,  would  have  interfered  to  save  Morgan,  and 
he  would  have  been  swept  from  his  feet  by  the 
savage  men  and  instantly  killed,  in  spite  of  all  that 
he,  or  Carib,  or  any  one  else  could  have  done.  But 

231 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  violence  of  the  shock  when  the  ship  took  ground 
threw  them  to  the  deck,  and  they  forgot  for  the 
instant  their  bloody  purpose  of  vengeance  in  the 
inevitableness  of  their  approaching  danger;  they 
were  checked  in  their  mad  anger  for  a  few  seconds 
and  given  a  moment  for  reflection,  that  moment  con 
vinced  them  that  they  could  not  yet  dispense  with, 
the  services  of  their  captain.  With  black  rage  and 
white  fear  striving  for  mastery  in  their  hearts,  they 
rose  to  their  feet  and  faced  him  with  menacing  faces 
and  threatening  gestures. 

"  What's  to  be  done  now?  "  questioned  one  bolder 
than  the  rest. 

"  Now's  the  time/'  roared  the  undaunted  Morgan, 
striving  to  make  himself  heard  by  all  above  the 
thundering  seas,  "  to  show  your  courage,  lads !  " 

He  had  quickly  observed  that  the  force  with 
which  she  had  been  driven  on  the  shoals  had  shoved 
the  galleon's  nose  firmly  in  the  sand.  She  had  been 
caught  just  before  she  took  ground  by  a  tremendous 
roller  and  had  been  lifted  up  and  hurled  far  over  to 
starboard.  Although  almost  on  her  beam  ends,  her 
decks  inclining  landward,  the  strongly-built  ship 
held  steady  in  spite  of  the  tremendous  onslaughts  of 
the  seas  along  her  bilge. 

"  Take  heart,  men !  "  he  cried.  "  Observe.  She 
lies  still  and  secure.  'Tis  a  stout  hulk  and  will  take 

232 


BUCCANEER 


a  tremendous  battering  before  she  breaks.  We  may 
yet  save  ourselves." 

"  And  the  treasure  ?  "  roared  one. 

"  Ay,  and  the  treasure." 

"  I  think  the  storm  has  about  blown  itself  out/' 
interposed  old  Hornigold,  shouting  out  at  this  in 
stant.  "  Look  you,  mates/'  he  cried,  pointing  to 
westward,  "  it  clears !  The  sun'll  set  fair  to-night." 

"  The  bo's'n  is  right,"  cried  Morgan.  "  But  first 
of  all  we  must  take  no  chances  with  our  lives.  Even 
though  we  lose  the  ship  we  can  seize  another.  The 
world  is  full  of  treasure  and  we  can  find  it.  Now  I 
want  some  one  to  carry  a  line  ashore  through  the 
breakers.  Who  will  volunteer  ?  " 

"  I,"  said  Carib  instantly. 

"  I  need  you  here,"  answered  Morgan,  who  did 
not  purpose  to  be  deprived  of  that  bodyguard  upon 
whose  watchfulness  his  life  had  so  often  depended. 

"  I'll  go,"  exclaimed  young  Teach,  breaking 
through  the  crowd. 

"  That's  a  brave  heart !  "  said  Morgan.  "  A  line 
here !  " 

Instantly  a  light  line  was  forthcoming.  Teach 
tore  off  his  jacket,  laid  aside  his  weapons,  kicked  of! 
his  shoes,  took  a  turn  of  the  line  around  his  waist, 
made  it  fast,  wrung  Morgan's  hand,  watched  his 
chance,  leaped  overboard,  was  caught  by  an  on- 

233 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


rushing  wave  and  carried  far  toward  the  shore.  The 
ebb  of  the  roller  carried  him  back  seaward  some  dis 
tance,  but  he  swam  forward  madly,  and  the  next 
wave  brought  him  a  little  nearer  the  beach.  He 
was  driven  backward  and  forward,  but  each  time 
managed  to  get  a  little  nearer  the  shore  line. 

The  whole  ship's  company  stared  after  him,  spon 
taneously  cheering  and  yelling  cries  of  encourage 
ment  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  could  not  hear  a 
single  sound  in  the  roaring,  raging  seas.  Morgan 
himself  tended  the  line,  skilfully  paying  it  out  when 
necessary.  In  a  few  moments,  although  the  time 
seemed  hours  to  the  watchers,  the  feet  of  Teach 
touched  the  shore,  and  although  the  terrific  under 
tow  of  the  wave  that  had  dropped  him  there  almost 
bore  him  back  again,  yet  by  a  superhuman  exertion 
lie  managed  to  stagger  forward,  and  the  next 
moment  they  saw  him  fall  prostrate  on  the  sand. 

Had  he  fainted  or  given  way  ?  They  looked  at 
him  with  bated  breath  but  after  a  little  space  they 
saw  him  rise  slowly  to  his  feet  and  stagger  inland 
toward  a  low  point  where  a  lofty  palm  tree  was 
writhing  and  twisting  in  the  fierce  wTind.  He  was 
too  good  a  seaman  not  instantly  to  see  what  was 
required  of  him,  for,  waving  his  hand  toward  the 
ship  he  at  once  began  to  haul  in  the  line.  Keady 
hands  had  bent  a  larger  rope  to  it,  which  was  suc- 

234 


BUCCANEER 


ceeded  by  a  third,  strong  enough  to  bear  a  man's 
weight.  The  buccaneer  hauled  this  last  in  with 
great  difficulty,  for  the  distance  was  far  and  the  wet 
rope  was  heavy.  He  climbed  up  and  made  it  fast 
to  the  tree  and  then  waited.  As  soon  as  he  had  done 
so  there  was  a  rush  on  the  ship  for  the  line  which 
had  been  made  fast  inboard  temporarily.  Morgan, 
however,  interposed  between  the  crew  and  the 
coveted  way  to  safety. 

"  Back !  "  he  shouted.  "  One  at  a  time,  and  the 
order  as  I  appoint !  You,  L'Ollonois,  and  you,  and 
you/7  he  cried,  indicating  certain  men  upon  whom 
he  could  depend.  "  Go  in  succession.  Then  haul  a 
heavier  rope  ashore.  "  We'll  put  a  traveler  with  a 
boYn's  chair  on  it,  and  send  these  nuns  and  the 
priests  first  of  all." 

"  Do  we  have  to  wait  for  a  lot  of  wimmin  and 
papists  ?  "  growled  one  man  among  the  frightened 
rascals. 

"  You  have  to  wait  until  the  ship  breaks  up  be 
neath  your  feet,  if  it  is  my  pleasure,"  said  Morgan, 
coolly,  and  they  slunk  back  again,  cowed.  He  was 
master  of  the  situation  once  more. 

There  was  something  about  that  man  that  en 
forced  obedience,  whether  they  would  or  no.  His 
orders  were  promptly  obeyed  and  intelligently 
carried  out  by  L'Ollonois  and  his  men,  who  first  went 

235 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


ashore.  A  heavy  hawser  was  dragged  through  the 
surf  and  made  fast  high  up  on  the  sturdy  palm  tree. 
On  it  they  rigged  a  traveler  and  the  chair,  and  then 
the  frightened  nuns  were  brought  forward  from  the 
cabin. 

The  women  were  sick  with  apprehension.  They 
knew,  of  course,  that  the  ship  had  struck,  and  they 
had  been  expecting  instant  death.  Their  prayers 
had  been  rudely  interrupted  by  Morgan's  messenger, 
and  when  they  came  out  on  deck  in  that  stern  tem 
pest,  amid  that  body  of  wild,  ruthless  men,  their 
hearts  sank  within  them.  At  the  sight  of  those 
human  fiends  they  would  fain  have  welcomed  that 
watery  grave  from  which  they  had  just  been  implor 
ing  God  to  save  them.  When  they  discovered  that 
their  only  means  of  safety  lay  in  making  that  peril 
ous  passage  through  the  waters  which  overwhelmed 
the  bight  of  rope  in  which  hung  the  boatswain's 
chair,  they  counted  themselves  as  dead.  Indeed, 
they  would  have  refused  to  go  had  it  not  been  for 
the  calm  and  heroic  resolution  of  the  abbess,  their 
leader,  Sister  Maria  Christina,  who  strove  to  assuage 
their  fears. 

"  Hornigold,"  said  Morgan,  "  are  you  still  faith 
ful  to  me  in  this  crisis  ?  " 

"  I  shall  obey  you  in  all  things — now,"  answered 
the  boatswain. 


BUCCANEER 


"  Swear  it." 

"  By  the  old  buccaneer  faith,"  said  the  One-Eyed, 
again  adding  the  significant  adverb,  "  now." 

For  a  wonder,  the  captain  paid  no  attention  to  the 
emphahis  on  the  word,  "  now." 

"  Can  you  keep  your  pistols  dry  ?  " 

"  I  can  wrap  them  in  oilskin  and  thrust  them  in 
my  jacket." 

"  Go  to  the  shore,  then,"  said  Morgan,  "  and  re 
ceive  these  women.  March  them  away  from  the 
men  to  yonder  clump  of  palms,  and  guard  them  as 
you  would  your  life.  If  any  man  approach  you  or 
them  for  any  purpose,  shoot  him  dead  without  a 
word.  I'll  see  that  the  others  have  no  weapons. 
D'ye  understand  ?  " 

"  Ay,  and  shall  obey." 

"Go!" 

The  boatswain  swung  himself  into  the  chair  and 
the  men  on  the  other  end  of  the  traveler  pulled  him 
to  the  other  shore,  none  the  worse  for  his  wetting. 
He  opened  his  jacket,  found  the  weapons  dry,  and 
waved  his  hand  as  a  sign  to  Morgan  that  he  was  all 
right. 

"  Which  of  you  women  will  go  first  ?  "  asked  Mor 
gan. 

He  turned  instinctively  to  the  tall  abbess,  tower 
ing  among  her  shrinking  sisters.  She  indicated  first 

237 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


one  and  then  another  among  the  poor  captives,  and 
as  they  refused,  she  turned  to  Morgan  and,  with  a 
grave  dignity,  said  in  Spanish,  of  which  he  was  a 
master,  that  she  would  go  first  to  show  the  way,  and 
then  the  others  would  be  in  better  heart  to  follow. 
She  sat  down  on  the  boatswain's  chair — which  was 
simply  a  bit  of  wood  held  like  the  seat  of  a  swing  in 
a  triangle  of  rope — made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and 
waved  her  hand.  She  was  hauled  ashore  in  an  in 
stant  with  nothing  worse  to  complain  of  than  a 
drenching  by  the  waves.  By  Hornigold's  direction 
she  walked  past  him  toward  the  clump  of  palms 
which  Morgan  had  indicated. 

One  after  another  of  the  women  were  sent  for 
ward  until  the  whole  party  was  ashore.  Then  the 
Spanish  priests  took  their  turn,  and  after,  these 
reached  the  sand  the  rest  of  the  crew  were  sent 
ashore.  Morgan  was  careful  to  indicate  each  one's 
turn,  so  that  he  preserved  a  balance  between  the 
more  reputable  and  the  more  degraded  members  of 
the  crew,  both  on  ship  and  shore.  Among  the  last 
to  go  were  the  maroon  and  de  Lussan,  each  armed  as 
Hornigold  had  been.  They  had  both  received  in 
structions,  one  to  station  himself  at  the  palm  tree, 
the  other  to  cover  the  hawser  where  it  ran  along  the 
shore  before  it  entered  the  water.  These  precau 
tionary  orders  which  he  had  given  were  necessary, 

238 


BUCCANEER 


for  when  the  last  man  had  been  hauled  ashore  and 
Morgan  stepped  into  the  chair  for  his  turn,  one  of 
the  infuriated  buccaneers,  watching  his  chance, 
seized  his  jack-knife,  the  only  weapon  that  he  had, 
for  Morgan  had  been  careful  to  make  the  men  leave 
their  arms  on  the  ship,  and  made  a  rush  for  the 
rope  to  cut  it  and  leave  the  captain  to  his  fate.  But 
de  Lussan  shot  him  dead,  and  before  the  others  could 
make  a  move  Morgan  stepped  safely  on  the  sand. 

"  That  was  well  done,"  he  cried,  turning  to  the 
Frenchman. 

"  Ah,  mon  capitaine,"  answered  the  other,  "  it 
was  not  from  affection,  but  because  you  are  neces 
sary  to  us." 

"  Whatever  it  may  be,"  returned  the  old  man,  "  I 
owe  much  to  you  and  scuttle  me,  I'll  not  forget  it." 

The  Frenchman,  indifferent  to  Morgan's  expres 
sions  of  gratitude,  shrugged  his  shoulders,  turned 
away,  and  made  no  reply. 

The  transportation  of  so  many  people  across  the 
slender  line  had  taken  a  long  time.  The  sun,  just 
beginning  to  break  through  the  riven  clouds,  was 
near  its  setting;  night  would  soon  be  upon  them. 
They  must  hurry  with  what  was  yet  to  be  done. 
Morgan  sent  Teach  and  the  Brazilian  back  to  the 
ship  with  instructions  to  gather  up  enough  weapons 
to  arm  the  crew  and  to  send  them  ashore.  This  was 

239 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


promptly  done.  Indeed,  communication  was  not 
difficult  now  that  the  force  of  the  gale  was  abating. 
The  ship  had  been  badly  battered  but  still  held  to 
gether,  and  would  hold  unless  the  storm  came  up 
again.  As  the  arms  came  ashore  Morgan  served 
them  out  to  those  men  whom  he  considered  most 
reliable;  and,  after  throwing  out  a  strong  guard 
around  the  band,  the  rest  sought  shelter  around 
huge  driftwood  fires  which  had  been  kindled  by  the 
use  of  flint  and  steel.  There  was  hardly  a  possibility 
they  would  be  observed  in  that  deserted  land,  but 
still  it  was  wise  to  take  precaution. 

Morgan  ordered  the  women  and  priests  to  be 
double-guarded  by  the  trustiest,  and  it  was  well  that 
he  did  so.  He  gave  old  Hornigold  particular  charge 
of  them.  The  buccaneers  were  hungry  and  thirsty, 
but  they  were  forced  to  do  without  everything  until 
morning  when  they  could  get  all  they  wanted  from 
the  ship.  So  they  tightened  their  belts  and  disposed 
themselves  about  the  fires  as  best  they  could  to  get 
what  rest  they  might. 

Morgan  and  the  officers  drew  apart  and  consulted 
long  and  earnestly  over  the  situation.  They  could 
never  make  the  ship  seaworthy  again.  To  build  a 
smaller  one  out  of  her  timbers  would  be  the  work  of 
months  and  when  it  was  finished  it  could  not  possibly 
carry  the  whole  crew.  To  march  westward  toward 

240 


But  de  Lussan  shot  him  dead,  and  before  the  others  could  make 
a  move,  Morgan  stepped  safely  on  the  sand. 


BUCCANEER 


the  Isthmus  meant  to  encounter  terrific  hardships 
for  days;  their  presence  would  speedily  become 
known,  and  they  would  be  constantly  menaced  or 
attacked  by  troops  from  the  heavily  garrisoned 
places  like  Porto  Bello  and  Carthagena.  Back  of 
them  a  short  distance  away  lay  La  Guayra.  It  could 
be  taken  by  surprise,  Morgan  urged,  and  easily  cap 
tured.  If  they  started  to  march  westward  the  In 
dians  would  apprise  the  Spaniards  of  their  presence, 
and  they  would  have  to  fight  their  way  to  the  Pacific. 
If  they  took  La  Guayra,  then  the  Viceroy,  with  the 
treasure  of  his  palace  and  the  opulent  city  of  Car 
acas  would  be  at  their  mercy.  They  could  ravage 
the  two  towns,  seize  the  first  ship  that  came  to  the 
roadstead,  and  make  their  way  to  the  Isthmus  safely 
and  speedily.  As  to  the  treasure  on  the  galleon, 
the  buccaneer  captain  proposed  to  unload  it  and  bury 
it  in  the  sand,  and  after  they  had  captured  La 
Guayra  it  would  be  easy  to  get  it  back  again. 

Morgan's  counsel  prevailed,  and  his  was  the  resol 
ution  to  which  they  came.  The  council  of  war  broke 
up  thereafter,  and  those  not  told  off  to  watch  with 
the  guards  went  to  sleep  near  the  fires.  Morgan, 
under  the  guardianship  of  the  faithful  Black  Dog, 
threw  himself  upon  the  ground  to  catch  a  few  hours' 
rest. 

The  next  morning  the  wind  had  died  away  and  the 
243 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


sea  was  fairly  calm.  The  men  swam  out  to  the  gal 
leon,  found  her  still  intact  though  badly  strained, 
and  by  means  of  boats  and  rafts,  working  with 
persistent  energy,  succeeded  in  landing  and  burying 
the  treasure  under  the  very  palm  tree  which  held  the 
rope  that  had  given  them  salvation. 

Morgan's  plan  was  an  excellent  one,  the  best  that 
could  be  suggested  in  the  straits  they  then  were,  and 
it  received  the  hearty  assent  of  all  the  men.  It 
took  them  all  day  to  land  the  treasure  and  make 
their  other  preparations,  which  included  the  manu 
facture  of  several  rude  scaling  ladders,  pieces  of 
timber  with  cross  pieces  nailed  upon  them,  which 
could  be  used  in  surmounting  the  walls  of  the  town. 
In  the  evening  the  order  of  march  was  arranged 
and  their  departure  set  for  the  morrow.  They  had 
saved  their  treasure,  they  had  food  in  plenty  now, 
and  with  dry  clothes  and  much  rum  they  began  to 
take  a  more  cheerful  view  of  life.  They  were  fairly 
content  once  more. 

The  next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  for  he  desired  to 
approach  the  town  at  nightfall,  Morgan  gave  the 
order  to  advance.  He  was  as  much  of  a  soldier  as 
a  sailor  and  sent  ahead  a  party  of  choice  spirits 
under  Teach,  while  the  main  body  followed  some 
distance  behind.  As  the  shades  of  evening  descended 
a  messenger  from  the  advance  guard  came  back  with 

244 


BUCCANEER 


the  news  that  a  party  of  travelers  had  been  seen 
coming  down  the  mountain;  that  they  comprised  a 
half-dozen  troopers,  a  number  of  slaves,  a  heavily 
laden  pack  train,  and  two  women. 

Teach  had  stationed  his  men  under  the  trees  at  a 
bend  of  the  road  around  which  the  travelers  had  to 
pass,  and  he  awaited  Morgan's  orders.  Taking  a 
detachment  of  the  most  reliable  men  with  Velsers 
and  Hornigold,  and  bidding  the  other  officers  and 
men  to  stand  where  they  were  until  he  sent  word, 
Morgan  and  those  with  him  ran  rapidly  forward 
until  they  came  to  the  ambuscade  which  young 
Teach  had  artfully  prepared.  He  and  his  had 
scarcely  time  to  dispose  themselves  for  concealment 
before  a  soldier  came  riding  carelessly  down  the 
road.  Waiting  until  the  man  had  passed  him  a 
short  distance  and  until  the  other  unsuspicious 
travelers  were  fairly  abreast  the  liers-in-wait,  whom 
he  had  charged  on  no  account  to  move  until  he  gave 
the  word,  Morgan  stepped  out  into  the  open  and 
called.  The  buccaneers  instantly  followed  him. 

As  the  soldier  saw  these  fierce  looking  men  spring 
before  him  out  of  the  darkness,  he  cried  aloud.  The 
next  moment  he  was  shot  dead  by  Morgan  himself. 
At  the  same  instant  a  volley  rang  out  at  contact 
range,  and  every  man  in  the  party  fell  to  the  ground. 
Some  were  killed,  others  only  wounded;  all  of  them 

245 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


except  Alvarado  were  injured  in  some  way.  He 
struck  spurs  into  his  horse  when  he  heard  the  cry 
of  Fadrique  and  the  shot.  The  surprised  barb 
plunged  forward,  was  hit  by  half  a  dozen  bullets, 
fell  to  the  ground  in  a  heap,  and  threw  his  rider  over 
his  head.  The  Spaniard  scrambled  to  his  feet, 
whipped  out  his  sword,  lunged  forward  and  drove 
his  blade  into  the  breast  of  old  Velsers.  The  next 
instant  a  dozen  weapons  flashed  over  his  head.  One 
rang  upon  his  steel  casque,  another  crashed  against 
the  polished  breast-plate  that  he  wore.  He  cut  out 
again  in  the  darkness,  and  once  more  fleshed  his 
weapon. 

Women's  screams  rose  above  the  tumult.  Beat 
ing  back  the  swords  which  menaced  him,  although 
he  was  reeling  from  the  blows  which  he  had  received, 
Alvarado  strove  to  make  his  way  toward  Donna  Mer 
cedes,  when  he  was  seized  in  the  darkness  from  be 
hind. 

"  Kill  him !  "  cried  a  voice  in  English,  which  Al 
varado  and  Mercedes  both  understood  perfectly. 
"  He's  the  only  one  alive." 

"  .Nay,"  cried  another  voice,  stronger  and  sterner, 
"save  him;  we'll  question  him  later.  Did  any 
escape  ? " 

"  Not  one." 

"  Are  there  any  horses  alive  ?  " 
246 


BUCCANEER 


"  Two  or  three." 

"  Bring  them  hither.  Now  back  to  the  rest.  Then 
we  can  show  a  light  and  see  what  we  have  captured. 
Teach,  lead  on.  Let  no  harm  come  to  the  women." 

"  Ay,  ay,"  answered  another  voice  out  of  the 
darkness,  and  a  third  voice  growled  out : 

"  Hadn't  we  better  make  sure  that  none  are  alive 
to  tell  the  tale  ?  " 

"  Of  course;  a  knife  for  the  wounded,"  answered 
the  stern  voice,  "  and  bear  a  hand." 

Greatly  surprised  and  unable  to  comprehend  any 
thing  but  that  his  men  had  been  slaughtered  and  no 
harm  had  as  yet  befallen  his  charges,  Alvarado, 
whose  arms  had  been  bound  to  his  side,  found  him 
self  dragged  along  in  the  wake  of  his  captors,  one  or 
two  of  whom  mounted  on  the  unwounded  horses, 
with  the  two  women  between  them,  rode  rapidly 
down  the  road. 


247 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XV 

TELLS  HOW  MERCEDES   DE   LARA   RETURNED  THE   UNSOUGHT 

CARESS  OF  SIR   HENRY  MORGAN,   AND  THE   MEANS   BY 

WHICH  THE  BUCCANEERS  SURMOUNTED  THE  WALLS 

E  hundred  yards  or  so  beyond  the  place 
of  the  ambush  the  road  dropped  sharply 
over  the  last  low  cliff  to  the  narrow 
strand  which  led  to  the  west  wall  of  La 
Guayra,  distant  a  half  a  mile  away.  They  had  all 
been  under  the  deep  shadow  of  the  thick  trees  over 
hanging  the  way  until  this  instant,  but  in  the  faint 
light  cast  by  the  moon  just  risen,  Alvarado  could  see 
that  a  great  body  of  people  were  congregated  before 
him  on  the  road.  Who  they  were  and  what  they 
were  he  could  not  surmise.  He  was  not  long  left  in 
doubt,  however,  for  the  same  voice  whose  command 
ing  tones  had  caused  his  life  to  be  spared,  now  called 
for  lights.  The  demand  was  obeyed  with  a  prompt 
ness  that  bespoke  fear  indeed,  or  discipline  of  the 
sternest,  and  soon  the  captives  found  themselves  i:i 
a  circle  of  lurid  light  sent  forth  by  a  number  of  blaz 
ing  torches. 

The  illumination  revealed  to  Alvarado  as  villainous 
248 


BUCCANEER 


and  terrible-looking  a  body  of  men  as  he  had  ever 
seen.  The  first  glance  convinced  him  that  they  were 
not  Spanish  brigands  or  robbers.  He  was  too  young 
to  have  had  dealings  with  the  buccaneers  of  the  past 
generation,  but  he  realized  that  if  any  such  remained 
on  this  side  of  the  earth,  they  must  be  like  these  men 
who  surrounded  him.  He  wasted  no  time  in  sur 
mises,  however,  for  after  the  first  swift  comprehen 
sive  glance  his  eyes  sought  Mercedes.  She  sat  her 
horse  free  and  uninjured  apparently,  for  which  he 
thanked  God.  She  was  leaning  forward  over  her 
saddle  and  staring  in  bewilderment  and  surprise  at 
the  scene  and  confusion  before  her. 

"  Donna  Mercedes/7  cried  Alvarado,  turning  him 
self  about,  in  spite  of  his  bonds  and  the  restraint  his 
immediate  captors  endeavored  to  put  upon  him,  "  are 
you  safe — unhurt  ?  " 

"  Safe,"  answered  the  girl,  "  and  thou  ?  " 

"  Well,  but  for  these  bonds." 

"  God  be  thanked  !     Who  are  these  men  ?  " 

"  I  know  not,  but— 

"  Oh,  sir,"  interrupted  Senora  Agapida,  recovering 
her  voice  at  the  sound  of  the  Spanish  tongue,  "  for 
Christ's  sake,  what  does  this  mean  ?  Save  us !  " 

"  Sefiora,"  said  that  same  sharp  voice,  but  this  time 
speaking  in  the  Spanish  tongue,  as  a  tall  man,  hat  in 
hand,  urged  his  horse  forward,  "  fear  nothing,  you 

249 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


shall  be  protected.  And  you,  senorita.  Do  I  not 
have  the  honor  of  addressing  Donna  Mercedes  de 
Lara?" 

"  That  is  my  name/'  answered  the  girl,  haughtily. 
"  Who  are  you  ?  Why  have  you  shot  my  people  and 
seized  me  prisoner  ?  " 

"  For  love  of  you,  Mistress  Mercedes." 

"  Just  heaven !  Who  are  you,  I  say !  "  cried  the 
girl  at  this  startling  answer,  turning  in  surprise  and 
terror  to  look  upon  his  countenance. 

There  was  something  familiar  in  the  man's  face 
that  called  up  a  vague  recollection  which  she  strove 
to  master. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  she  cried  again. 

"  Sir  Harry  Morgan !  "  answered  the  horseman, 
bowing  low  over  the  saddle,  "  a  free  sailor  at  your 
service,  ma'am." 

"  My  God !  "  cried  Alvarado,  who  had  listened  at 
tentively,  "  the  buccaneer  ?  " 

'  The  same,"  answered  Morgan  turning  to  him. 

"  Sir  Harry  Morgan !  Were  you  not  Governor  of 
Jamaica  last  year  ? "  asked  Mercedes  in  astonish 
ment. 

"  I  had  that  honor,  lady." 

"  Why  are  you  now  in  arms  against  us  ? " 

"  A  new  king,  Mistress  de  Lara,  sits  the  English 
throne.  He  likes  me  not.  I  and  these  gallant  sea- 

250 


BUCCANEER 


men  are  going  to  establish  a  kingdom  in  some  sweet 
island  in  the  South  Seas,  with  our  good  swords.  I 
would  fain  have  a  woman  to  bear  me  company  on 
the  throne.  Since  I  saw  you  in  Jamaica  last  year,  I 
have  designed  you  for  the  honor — 

"  Monster !  "  screamed  the  girl,  appalled  by  the 
hideous  leer  which  accompanied  his  words.  "  Eather 
anything " 

"  Sir/'  interrupted  Alvarado,  "  you  are  an  En 
glishman.  Your  past  rank  should  warrant  you  a 
gentleman,  but  for  this.  There  is  no  war  between 
England  and  Spain.  What  is  the  meaning  of  this 
outrage  ?  This  lady  is  the  daughter  of  the  Viceroy 
of  Venezuela.  I  am  his  captain  and  the  command- 
ante  of  yonder  city  of  La  Guayra.  You  have  way 
laid  us,  taken  us  at  a  disadvantage.  My  men  are 
killed.  For  this  assault  His  Excellency  will  exact 
bloody  reparation.  Meanwhile  give  order  that  we 
be  unbound,  and  let  us  pass." 

"  Ho,  ho !  "  laughed  the  buccaneer.  "  Think  you 
I  fear  the  Viceroy  ?  ISTay,  not  His  Majesty  of  Spain 
himself!  I  came  here  with  set  purpose  to  take  La 
Guayra  and  then  Caracas,  and  to  bear  away  with  me 
this  pretty  lady  upon  whom,  I  repeat,  I  design  to 
bestow  the  honor  of  my  name." 

As  he  spoke  he  leaned  toward  Mercedes,  threw 
his  arm  around  her  waist,  and  before  she  was  even 

251 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


aware  of  her  intention,  kissed  her  roughly  on  the 
cheek. 

"  Lads/7  he  cried,  "  three  cheers  for  the  future 
Lady  Morgan !  " 

The  proud  Spanish  girl  turned  white  as  death 
under  this  insult.  Her  eyes  flashed  like  coals  of  fire. 
Morgan  was  close  beside  her.  She  was  without 
weapon  save  a  jeweled  whip  that  hung  at  her  wrist. 
Before  the  first  note  of  a  cheer  could  break  from  the 
lips  of  the  men  she  lifted  it  and  struck  him  violently 
again  and  again  full  in  the  face. 

"  Thou  devil !  "  cried  the  captain  in  fury,  whip 
ping  out  his  sword  and  menacing  her  with  it. 

"  Strike !  "  cried  Mercedes  bravely,  "  and  let  my 
blood  wash  out  the  insult  that  you  have  put  upon  my 
cheek." 

She  raised  her  whip  once  more,  but  this  time 
young  Teach,  coming  on  the  other  side,  caught  her 
hand,  wrested  the  jeweled  toy  from  her,  and  broke 
it  in  the  struggle. 

"  Thou  shalt  pay  dearly  for  those  stripes,  lady !  " 
roared  Morgan,  swerving  closer  to  her.  "  And  not 
now  in  honorable  wedlock — 

"  I  will  die  first !  "  returned  Mercedes. 

Alvarado,  meanwhile,  had  been  struggling 
desperately  to  free  himself.  By  the  exercise  of 
superhuman  strength,  just  as  Morgan  again  menaced 

252 


BUCCANEER 


the  woman  lie  loved,  he  succeeded  in  freeing  himself 
from  his  loosely-tied  bonds.  His  guards  for  the 
moment  had  their  attention  distracted  from  him  by 
the  group  on  horseback.  He  wrenched  a  sword  from 
the  hand  of  one,  striking  him  a  blow  with  his  naked 
fist  that  sent  him  reeling  as  he  did  so,  and  then  flung 
out  his  other  arm  so  that  the  heavy  pommel  of  the 
sword  struck  the  second  guard  in  the  face,  and  the 
way  was  clear  for  the  moment.  He  sprang  forward 
instantly,  seized  Morgan's  horse,  forced  him  away 
from  Mercedes  by  a  wrench  of  his  powerful  arm, 
and  stood  at  bay  in  front  of  the  woman  he  loved. 
He  said  no  word  but  stood  with  his  sword  up  on 
guard,  panting  heavily  from  his  fierce  exertions. 

"  Alvarado,  you  will  be  killed !  "  screamed  the 
girl,  seeing  the  others  make  for  him. 

"  Here  we  have  it,"  sneered  Morgan.  "  This  is 
the  secret  of  your  refusal.  He  is  your  lover." 

"  Seize  him !  "  cried  Teach,  raising  his  sword,  as 
followed  by  the  others  he  made  at  Alvarado,  who 
awaited  them  undaunted. 

"  Stay !  "  shouted  de  Lussan,  "  there  is  a  better 
way." 

Eudely  shoving  Senora  Agapida  aside,  he  seized 
Mercedes  from  behind. 

"  Do  not  move,  mademoiselle,"  he  said  in  French 
in  his  excitement,  which  fortunately  she  understood. 

253 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  That's  well  done !  "  cried  Morgan,  "  Captain  Al 
varado,  if  that  be  your  name,  throw  down  your 
sword  if  you  would  save  the  lady's  life." 

"  Mind  me  not,  Alvarado,"  cried  Mercedes,  but 
Alvarado,  perceiving  the  situation,  instantly  dropped 
his  weapon. 

"  Now  seize  him  and  bind  him  again !  And  you, 
dogs !  "  Morgan  added,  turning  to  the  men  who  had 
allowed  the  prisoner  to  slip  before,  "  if  he  escape 
you  again  you  shall  be  hanged  to  the  nearest  tree !  " 

"  Hadst  not  better  bind  the  woman,  too  ?  "  queried 
the  Frenchman  gently,  still  holding  her  fast  in  his 
fierce  grasp. 

"  Ay,  the  wench  as  well.  Oh,  I'll  break  your 
spirit,  my  pretty  one,"  answered  Morgan  savagely, 
nipping  the  young  woman's  cheek.  "  Wilt  pay  me 
blows  for  kisses  ?  Scuttle  me,  you  shall  crawl  at  my 
feet  before  I've  finished  with  you !  " 

"  Why  not  kill  this  caballero  out  of  hand,  cap 
tain  ? "  asked  Hornigold,  savage  from  a  slight 
wound,  as  he  limped  up  to  Morgan. 

"  No,  I  have  use  for  him.     Are  the  rest  silent  ?  " 

"  They  will  tell  no  tales,"  laughed  L'Ollonois 
grimly. 

"  Did  none  escape  back  up  the  road  ? " 

"  None,  Sir  Henry,"  answered  the  other.     "  My 


254 


BUCCANEER 


men  closed  in  after  them  and  drove  them  forward. 
They  are  all  gone." 

"  That's  well.  Now,  for  La  Guayra.  What  force 
is  there,  Senor  Capitan  ?  " 

Alvarado  remained  obstinately  silent.  He  did  not 
speak  even  when  Morgan  ruthlessly  cut  him  across 
the  cheek  with  his  dagger.  He  did  not  utter  a  sound, 
although  Mercedes  groaned  in  anguish  at  the  sight  of 
his  torture. 

"  You'd  best  kill  him,  captain,"  said  L'Ollonois. 

"  N~o,  I  have  need  for  him,  I  say,"  answered  Mor 
gan,  giving  over  the  attempt  to  make  him  speak. 
"  Is  any  one  here  who  has  been  at  La  Guayra 
recently  ? "  he  asked  of  the  others. 

"  I  was  there  last  year  on  a  trading  ship  of 
Trance,"  answered  Sawkins. 

"  What  garrison  then  ?  " 

"  About  two  hundred  and  fifty." 

"  Was  it  well  fortified  ?  " 

"  As  of  old,  sir,  by  the  forts  on  either  side  and  a 
rampart  along  the  sea  wall." 

"  Were  the  forts  in  good  repair  ?  " 

"  Well  kept  indeed,  but  most  of  the  guns  bore 
seaward." 

"  Have  you  the  ladders  ready  ?  "  cried  Morgan  to 
Braziliano,  who  had  been  charged  to  convey  the 


255 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


rude  scaling  ladders  by  which  they  hoped  to  get  over 
the  walls. 

"  All  ready,  captain,"  answered  that  worthy. 

"  Let  us  go  forward  then.  We'll  halt  just  out  of 
musket-shot  and  concert  our  further  plans.  We 
have  the  Governor  in  our  hands,  lads.  The  rest  will 
be  easy.  There  is  plenty  of  plunder  in  La  Guayra, 
and  when  we  have  made  it  our  own  we'll  over  the 
mountains  and  into  Caracas.  Hornigold,  you  are 
lame  from  a  wound,  look  to  the  prisoners." 

"  To  La  Guayra  !  To  La  Guayra  !  "  enthusiastic 
ally  shouted  the  men,  taking  up  the  line  of  march. 

The  rising  moon  flooding  the  white  strand  made 
the  scene  as  light  as  day.  They  kept  good  watch  on 
the  walls  of  La  Guayra,  for  the  sound  of  the  shots  in 
the  night  air  had  been  heard  by  some  keen-eared 
sentry,  and  as  a  result  the  garrison  had  been  called 
to  arms.  The  firing  had  been  too  heavy  to  be 
accounted  for  by  any  ordinary  circumstances,  and 
officers  and  soldiers  had  been  at  a  loss  to  understand 
it.  However,  to  take  precautions  were  wise,  and 
every  preparation  was  made  as  if  against  an  im 
mediate  attack.  The  drums  were  beaten;  the  ram 
parts  were  manned ;  the  guns  were  primed,  and  such 
of  the  townspeople  as  were  not  too  timid  to  bear 
arms  were  assembled  under  their  militia  officers. 

The  watchers  on  the  west  wall  of  the  fort  were 
256 


BUCCANEER 


soon  aware  of  the  approach  of  the  buccaneers.  In 
deed,  they  made  no  concealment  whatever  about 
their  motions.  Who  they  were  and  what  they  were 
the  garrison  had  not  discovered  and  could  not 
imagine.  A  prompt  and  well-aimed  volley,  however, 
as  soon  as  the  buccaneers  came  within  range  ap 
prised  them  that  they  were  dealing  with  enemies, 
and  determined  enemies  at  that.  Under  cover  of 
the  confusion  caused  by  this  unexpected  discharge, 
Morgan  deployed  his  men. 

"  Lads,"  he  said,  "  we'll  board  yon  fort  with  a 
rush  and  a  cheer.  The  ladders  will  be  placed  on 
the  walls,  and  under  cover  of  a  heavy  fire  from  our 
musketry  we'll  go  over  them.  Use  only  the  cutlass 
when  you  gain  the  parapet  and  ply  like  men.  Ke- 
member  what's  on  the  other  side !  " 

"  Ay,  but  who'll  plant  the  ladders  ? "  asked  one. 

"  The  priests  and  women,"  said  Morgan  grimly. 
"  I  saved  them  for  that." 

A  roar  of  laughter  and  cheers  broke  from  the 
ruffianly  gang  as  they  appreciated  the  neatness  of 
the  old  buccaneer's  scheme. 

"  'Tis  an  old  trick,"  he  continued ;  "  we  did  the 
same  thing  thirty  years  since  at  Porto  Bello.  Eh, 
Hornigold?  How's  that  leg  of  yours?" 

"  Stiff  and  sore." 

"Bide  here  then  with  the  musketeers.  Teach, 
257 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


you  shall  take  the  walls  under  the  cliff  yonder. 
L'Ollonois,  lead  your  men  straight  at  the  fort.  De 
Lussan,  let  the  curtain  between  be  your  point.  I 
shall  be  with  the  first  to  get  over.  Now,  charge 
your  pieces  all,  and  Hornigold,  after  we  have  started, 
by  slow  and  careful  fire  do  you  keep  the  Spaniards 
down  until  you  hear  us  cheer.  After  that,  hold 
your  fire." 

"  But  I  should  like  to  be  in  the  first  rank  myself, 
master,"  growled  the  old  boatswain. 

"  Ha,  ha !  "  laughed  Morgan,  "  that's  a  right 
spirit,  lad,  but  that  cut  leg  holds  you  back,  for 
which  you  have  to  thank  this  gentleman,"  bowing 
toward  Alvarado  with  a  hideous  countenance.  "  You 
can  be  of  service  here.  Watch  the  musketeers.  We 
would  have  no  firing  into  our  backs.  Now  bring 
up  the  women  and  priests.  And,  Hornigold,  watch 
Sefiorita  de  Lara.  See  that  she  does  not  escape.  On 
your  life,  man;  Fd  rather  hold  her  safe,"  he  mut 
tered  under  his  breath,  "  than  take  the  whole  city 
of  Caracas." 

With  shouts  of  fiendish  glee  the  buccaneers  drove 
the  hapless  nuns  and  priests,  who  had  been  dragged 
along  in  the  rear,  to  the  front.  The  Spaniards  were 
firing  at  them  now,  but  with  no  effect  so  far.  The 
distance  was  great  and  the  moonlight  made  aim  un 
certain,  and  every  time  a  head  showed  itself  over 

258 


BUCCANEER 


the  battlement  it  became  a  target  for  the  fire  of  the 
musketeers,  who,  by  Hornigold's  orders,  ran  for 
ward  under  the  black  shadow  cast  by  the  high  cliff, 
where  they  could  not  be  seen,  and  from  this  point  of 
concealment,  taking  deliberate  aim,  made  havoc 
among  the  defenders. 

"  Now,  good  fathers  and  sisters,"  began  Morgan, 
"  you  have  doubtless  been  curious  to  know  why  you 
were  not  put  to  death.  I  saved  you — not  because  I 
loved  you,  but  because  I  needed  you.  I  had  a  pur 
pose  in  view;  that  purpose  is  now  apparent." 

"  What  would  you  with  us,  seiior  ?  "  asked  Sister 
Maria  Christina,  the  abbess,  stepping  out  in  front  of 
her  sisters. 

"  A  little  service,  my  sister.  Bring  up  the  lad 
ders,  men.  See,  there  are  seven  all  told.  That  will 
be  four  ladies  apiece  to  four  ladders;  and  here  are 
seven  priests,  which  allows  two  to  each  of  the  three 
remaining  ladders,  with  one  priest  and  one  sister 
over  for  good  measure,  and  to  take  the  place  of  any 
that  may  be  struck  down." 

"  And  what  are  we  to  do  with  them,  seiior  ?  " 
asked  Fra  Antonio  de  Las  Casas,  drawing  nearer  to 
the  captain. 

"  You  are  to  carry  them  to  yonder  wall  and  place 
them  against  it." 

"  You  do  not  mean,"  burst  out  Alvarado  pain- 
5J59 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


fully,  for  he  could  scarcely  speak  from  his  wounded 
cheek,  "  to  make  these  holy  women  bear  the  brunt 
of  that  fire  from  the  fort,  and  the  good  priests  as 
well?" 

"  Do  I  value  the  lives  of  women  and  priests,  ac 
cursed  Spaniard,  more  than  our  own  ?  "  questioned 
the  captain,  and  the  congenial  sentiment  was  re 
ceived  by  a  yell  of  approval  from  the  men.  "  But 
if  you  are  tender-hearted,  I'll  give  the  defenders  a 
chance.  Will  you  advise  them  to  yield  and  thus 
spare  these  women  ?  " 

"I  can  not  do  that,"  answered  Alvarado  sadly. 
"  'Tis  their  duty  to  defend  the  town.  There  are 
twenty  women  here,  there  are  five  hundred  there." 

"  D'ye  hear  that,  mates  ?  "  cried  Morgan.  Up 
with  the  ladders  !  " 

"  But  what  if  we  refuse  ?  "  cried  the  abbess. 

i  You  shall  be  given  over  to  the  men,"  answered 
Morgan,  ferociously,  "  whereas,  if  you  do  as  I  order, 
you  may  go  free;  those  who  are  left  alive  after  the 
storm.  Do  ye  hear,  men  ?  We'll  let  them  go  after 
they  have  served  us,"  continued  the  chief  turning  to 
his  men.  "  Swear  that  you  will  let  them  go !  There 
are  others  in  La  Guayra." 

i  We  swear,  we  swear !  "  shouted  one  after  an 
other,  lifting  their  hands  and  brandishing  their 
weapons. 


BUCCANEER 


"  You  hear !  "  cried  Morgan.  "  Pick  up  the 
ladders !  " 

"  For  God's  sake,  sir —  '  began  Maria  Chris 
tina. 

"I. know  no  God/'  interrupted  Morgan. 

"  You  had  a  mother — a  wife  once — perhaps  chil 
dren,  Seiior  Capitan.  Unsay  your  words  !  We  can 
not  place  the  ladders  which  will  give  you  access  to 
yonder  helpless  town." 

"  Then  to  the  men  you  go !  "  cried  Morgan  ruth 
lessly.  "  Forward  here,  two  or  three  of  you,  take 
this  woman  !  She  chooses " 


"  Death—  "  cried  the  abbess,  snatching  a  dagger 
from  the  nearest  hand  and  driving  it  into  her  breast, 
"  rather  than  dishonor  !  " 

She  held  herself  proudly  erect  for  a  moment, 
swayed  back  and  forth,  and  then  fell  prostrate  upon 
the  sand,  the  blood  staining  her  white  robe  about  the 
hilt  of  the  poniard.  She  writhed  and  shuddered  in 
agony  where  she  lay,  striving  to  say  something.  Fra 
Antonio  sprang  to  her  side,  and  before  any  one 
could  interfere  knelt  down. 

"  I — I — I  have  sinned,'7  she  gasped.  "  Mercy, 
mercy !  " 

"  Thou  hast  done  well,  I  absolve  thee !  "  cried  the 
priest,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  upon  her  fore 
head. 

261 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  Death  and  fury !  "  shouted  Morgan,  livid  with 
rage.  "  Let  her  die  unshriven !  Shall  I  be  balked 
thus?" 

He  sprang  toward  the  old  man  stooping  over  the 
woman,  and  struck  him  across  his  shaven  crown  with 
the  blade  of  his  sword.  The  priest  pitched  down  in 
stantly  upon  the  body  of  the  abbess,  a  long  shudder 
running  through  him.  Then  he  lay  still. 

"  Harry  Morgan's  way !  "  cried  the  buccaneer, 
recovering  his  blade.  "  And  you?  "  turning  toward 
the  other  women.  "  Have  you  had  lesson  enough  ? 
Pick  up  those  ladders,  or  by  hell— 

"  Mercy,  mercy !  "  screamed  the  frightened  nuns. 

"  Not  another  word !  Drive  .  them  forward, 
men !  " 

The  buccaneers  sprang  at  the  terrified  women  and 
priests,  some  with  weapons  out,  others  with  leers 
and  outstretched  arms.  First  one  and  then  another 
gave  way.  The  only  leadership  among  the  sisters 
and  priests  lay  upon  the  sand  there.  What  could 
they  do?  They  picked  up  the  ladders  and,  urged 
forward  by  threats  and  shouts  of  the  buccaneers 
under  cover  of  a  furious  discharge  from  Hornigold's 
musketeers,  they  ran  to  the  walls  imploring  the 
Spaniards  not  to  fire  upon  them. 

When  the  Spanish  commander  perceived  who 
were  approaching,  with  a  mistaken  impulse  of  mercy 

262 


BUCCANEER 


he  ordered  his  men  to  fire  over  their  heads,  and  so 
did  little  danger  to  the  approaching  buccaneers.  A 
few  of  them  fell,  but  the  rest  dashed  into  the  smoke. 
There  was  no  time  for  another  discharge.  The  lad 
ders  were  placed  against  the  walls,  and  priests  and 
nuns  were  ruthlessly  cast  aside  and  trampled  down. 
In  a  little  space  the  marauders  were  upon  the  ram 
parts  fighting  like  demons.  Morgan,  covered  by 
Black  Dog,  with  Teach,  de  Lussan,  and  L'Ollonois, 
was  in  the  lead.  Truth  to  tell,  the  captain  was  never 
backward  when  fighting  was  going  on.  The  desper 
ate  onslaught  of  their  overwhelming  numbers,  once 
they  had  gained  a  foothold,  swept  the  defenders  be 
fore  them  like  chaff.  Waiting  for  nothing,  they 
sprang  down  from  the  fort  and  raced  madly  through 
the  narrow  streets  of  the  town.  They  brushed  op 
position  away  as  leaves  are  driven  aside  by  a 
winter  storm.  Ere  the  defenders  on  the  east  forts 
could  realize  their  presence,  they  were  upon  them, 
also. 

In  half  an  hour  every  man  bearing  a  weapon  had 
been  cut  down.  The  town  was  at  the  mercy  of  this 
horde  of  human  tigers.  They  broke  open  wine  cel 
lars;  they  pillaged  the  provision  shops;  they  tortured 
without  mercy  the  merchants  and  inhabitants  to 
force  them  to  discover  their  treasures,  and  they  in 
sulted  and  outraged  the  helpless  women.  They  were 

263 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


completely  beyond  control  now;  drunk  with 
slaughter,  intoxicated  with  liquor,  mad  with  lust, 
they  ravaged  and  plundered.  To  add  to  the  con 
fusion,  fire  burst  forth  here  and  there,  and  before 
the  morning  dawned  half  of  the  city  was  in  ashes. 

The  pale  moon  looked  down  upon  a  scene  of 
horror  such  as  it  had  never  before  shone  upon,  even 
in  the  palmiest  days  of  the  buccaneers. 


264 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   XVI 

IN  WHICH  BENJAMIN   HORNIGOLD   RECOGNIZES  A  CROSS,  AND 

CAPTAIN  ALVARADO  FINDS  AND   LOSES  A  MOTHER   ON 

THE  STRAND 


HE  musketeers  under  Hornigold,  chosen 
for  their  mastery  with  the  weapon,  had 
played  their  parts  with  cunning  skill. 
Concealed  from  observation  by  the  deep 
shadow  of  the  cliffs,  and 
therefore  immune  from 
the  enemy's  fire,  they 
had  made  targets  of  the 
Spaniards  on  the  walls, 
and  by  a  close,  rapid,  and 
well-directed  discharge, 
had  kept  down  the  re 
turn  of  the  garrison  until 
the  very  moment  of  the 
assault.  Hornigold  was 


able  to  keep  them  in  hand  for  a  little  space  after  the 
capture  of  the  town,  but  the  thought  of  the  pleasure 
being  enjoyed  by  their  comrades  was  too  much  for 
them.  Anxious  to  take  a  hand  in  the  hideous  fray, 

265 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


they  stole  away  one  by  one,  slinking  under  the  cliff 
until  they  were  beyond  the  reach  of  the  boatswain, 
then  boldly  rushing  for  the  town  in  the  open,  until 
the  old  sailor  was  left  with  only  a  half-dozen  of  the 
most  dependable  surrounding  himself  and  prisoners. 

The  rest  would  not  have  got  away  from  him  so 
easily  had  he  not  been  so  intensely  occupied  that  at 
first  he  had  taken  little  note  of  what  was  going  on. 

Mercedes  and  Alvarado  had  only  opportunity  to 
exchange  a  word  now  and  then,  for  extended  con 
versation  was  prevented  by  the  guards.  Alvarado 
strove  to  cheer  the  woman  he  loved,  and  she  prom 
ised  him  she  would  choose  instant  death  rather  than 
dishonor.  He  could  give  her  little  encouragement  of 
rescue,  for  unless  word  of  their  plight  were  carried 
to  the  Viceroy  immediately,  he  would  be  far  on  the 
way  to  the  Orinoco  country  before  any  tidings  could 
reach  him,  and  by  the  time  he  returned  it  would  be 
too  late. 

Again  and  again  Alvarado  strove  to  break  his 
bonds,  in  impotent  and  helpless  fury,  but  this  time 
he  was  securely  bound  and  his  captors  only  laughed 
at  his  struggles.  In  the  midst  of  their  grief  and 
despair  they  both  took  notice  of  the  poor  abbess. 
Fra  Antonio  had  not  moved  since  Morgan  had 
stricken  him  down,  but  there  was  life  still  in  the 
woman,  for,  from  where  they  stood,  some  distance 

266 


BUCCANEER 


back,  the  two  lovers  each  marked  her  convulsive 
trembling.  The  sight  appealed  profoundly  to  them 
in  spite  of  their  perilous  situation. 

"  The  brave  sister  lives/'  whispered  Mercedes. 

"  'Tis  so/'  answered  Alvarado.  "  Seiior/'  he 
called,  "  the  sister  yonder  is  alive.  Wilt  not  allow  us 
to  minister  to  her  ?  " 

"  iNVy,"  said  Hornigold  brusquely,  "  I  will  go  my 
self.  Back,  all  of  ye !  "  he  added.  "  She  may  wish 
to  confess  to  me  in  default  of  the  worthy  father." 

He  leered  hideously  as  he  spoke. 

"  Coward !  "  cried  Alvarado,  but  his  words  affected 
Hornigold  not  at  all. 

Before  he  could  say  another  word  the  guards 
forced  him  rudely  back  with  the  two  women.  The 
worthy  Senora  Agapida  by  this  time  was  in  a  state  of 
complete  and  total  collapse,  but  Mercedes  bore  her 
self — her  lover  marked  with  pleasure — as  proudly 
and  as  resolutely  as  if  she  still  stood  within  her 
father's  palace  surrounded  by  men  who  loved  her 
and  who  would  die  for  her. 

Kolling  the  body  of  the  prostrate  old  man  aside, 
Hornigold  knelt  down  on  the  white  sand  by  the  form 
of  the  sister.  The  moonlight  shone  full  upon  her 
face,  and  as  he  stooped  over  he  scanned  it  with  his 
one  eye.  A  sudden  flash  of  recognition  came  to  him. 
With  a  muttered  oath  of  surprise  he  looked  again. 

267 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  It  can't  be  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  and  yet " 

After  Fra  Antonio's  brave  attempt  at  absolution, 
the  woman  had  fainted.  Now  she  opened  her  eyes, 
although  she  was  not  yet  fully  conscious. 

"  Water !  "  she  gasped  feebly,  and  as  it  chanced 
the  boatswain  had  a  small  bottle  of  the  precious  fluid 
hanging  from  a  strap  over  his  shoulder.  There  was 
no  pity  in  the  heart  of  the  pirate,  he  would  have  al 
lowed  the  woman  to  die  gasping  for  water  without 
giving  her  a  second  thought,  but  when  he  recognized 
her — or  thought  he  did — there  instantly  sprang  into 
his  mind  a  desire  to  make  sure.  If  she  were  the  per 
son  he  thought  her  she  might  have  information  of 
value.  Unslinging  the  .bottle  and  pulling  out  the 
cork,  he  placed  it  to  her  lips. 

"  I — die,"  she  murmured  in  a  stronger  voice.  "  A 
priest." 

"  There  is  none  here,"  answered  the  boatswain. 
"  Fra  Antonio — he  absolved  you." 

"Where  is  he?" 

"  Dead,  yonder." 

"  But  I  must  confess." 

"  Confess  to  me,"  chuckled  the  old  man  in  ghastly 
mockery.  "  Many  a  woman  has  done  so  and " 

"  Art  in  Holy  Orders,  senor  ? "  muttered  the 
woman. 

"  Holy  enough  for  you.     Say  on." 


The  moonlight  shone  full  upon  her  face,  and  as  he  stooped 
over  he  scanned  it  with  his  one  eve. 


BUCCANEER 


"  Era  Antonio,  now/7  she  continued,  vacantly 
lapsing  into  semi-delirium,  "  he  married  us — 'twas  a 
secret — his  rank  was  so  great.  He  was  rich,  I  poor 
— humble.  The  marriage  lines — in  the  cross.  There 
was  a —  What's  that?  A  shot?  The  buccaneers. 
They  are  coming !  Go  not,  Francisco !  " 

Hornigold,  bending  an  attentive  ear  to  these 
broken  sentences  lost  not  a  word. 

"  Go  not,"  she  whispered,  striving  to  lift  an  arm, 
"  they  will  kill  thee  !  Thou  shalt  not  leave  me  alone, 
my  Francisco — The  boy — in  Panama — 

It  was  evident  to  the  sailor  that  the  poor  woman's 
mind  had  gone  back  to  the  dreadful  days  of  the  sack 
of  Panama.  He  was  right  then,  it  was  she. 

"  The  boy — save  him,  save  him !  "  she  cried  sud 
denly  with  astonishing  vigor.  The  sound  of  her  own 
voice  seemed  to  recall  her  to  herself.  She  stopped, 
her  eyes  lost  their  wild  glare  and  fixed  themselves 
upon  the  man  above  her,  his  own  face  in  the  shadow 
as  hers  was  in  the  light. 

"  Is  it  Panama  ?  "  she  asked.  "  Those  screams — 
the  shots —  She  turned  her  head  toward  the  city. 
"  The  flames—is  it  Panama  ?  " 

"  Nay,"  answered  the  one-eyed  fiercely.  "  'Tis 
twenty-five  years  since  then,  and  more.  Yonder  city 
is  La  Guayra.  This  is  the  coast  of  Venezuela." 

"  Oh — the  doomed  town — I  remember — now — I 
271 


SIR    HENRT    MORGAN 


stabbed  myself  rather  than — place  the  ladders.  Who 
art  thou,  sefior  ?  " 

"  Benjamin  Hornigold !"  cried  the  man  fiercely., 
bending  his  face  to  hers. 

For  a  second  the  woman  stared  at  him.  Then, 
recognizing  him,  she  screamed  horribly,  raising  her 
self  upon  her  arm. 

"  Hornigold !  "  she  cried.  "  What  have  you  done 
with  the  child  ?" 

"  I  left  him  at  Cuchillo,  outside  the  walls,"  an 
swered  the  man. 

"  And  the  cross  ?  " 

"  On  his  breast.     The  Captain " 

"  The  marriage  lines  were  there.  You  betrayed 
me.  May  God's  curse — nay,  I  die.  For  Christ's 
sake — I  forgive — Francisco,  Francisco." 

She  fell  back  gasping  on  the  sand.  He  tore  the  en 
closing  coif  from  her  face.  In  a  vain  effort  to  hold 
back  death's  hand  for  another  second,  Hornigold 
snatched  a  spirit  flask  from  his  belt  and  strove  to 
force  a  drop  between  her  lips.  It  was  too  late.  She 
was  gone.  He  knew  the  signs  too  well.  He  laid  her 
back  on  the  sand,  exclaiming: 

"  Curse  her !  Why  couldn't  she  have  lived  a 
moment  longer  ?  The  Captain's  brat — and  she  might 
have  told  me.  Bring  up  the  prisoners !  "  he  cried  to 


272 


BUCCANEER 


the  guards,  who  had  moved  them  out  of  earshot  of 
this  strange  conversation. 

"  The  cross,"  he  muttered,  "  the  marriage  lines 
therein.  The  only  clew.  And  yet  she  cried  '  Fran 
cisco.'  That  was  the  name.  Who  is  he  ?  If  I  could 
find  that  cross.  I'd  know  it  among  a  thousand. 
Hither,"  he  called  to  the  prisoners  slowly  approach 
ing. 

"  The  good  sister  ?  "  queried  Alvarado. 

"  Dead." 

As  the  young  soldier,  with  an  ejaculation  of  pity, 
bent  forward  in  the  moonlight  to  look  upon  the 
face  of  the  dead  woman,  from  his  torn  doublet  a 
silver  crucifix  suddenly  swung  before  the  eyes  of  the 
old  buccaneer. 

"  By  heaven!  "  he  cried.     "  Tis  the  cross." 

He  stepped  nearer  to  Alvarado,  seized  the  carven 
crucifix,  and  lifted  it  to  the  light. 

"  I  could  swear  it  was  the  same,"  he  muttered. 
"  Sefior,  your  name  and  rank  ?  " 

"  I  can  not  conceive  that  either  concerns  a  blood 
thirsty  ruffian  like — 

"  Stop !  Perhaps  there  is  more  in  this  than  thou 
thinkest,"  said  Mercedes.  "  Tell  him,  Alvarado.  It 
can  do  no  harm.  Oh,  seiior,  have  pity  on  us!  Un 
bind  me,"  she  added,  "  I  give  you  my  word.  I  wish 
but  to  pay  my  respect  to  the  woman  yonder." 
18  273 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


"  She  gives  good  counsel,  soldier,"  answered  the 
boatswain.  "  Cut  her  lashing,"  he  said  to  the  sailor 
who  guarded  them. 

As  the  buccaneer  did  so,  Mercedes  sank  ©n  her 
knees  by  the  side  of  the  dead  woman. 

"  Now,  sir,  your  name  ?  "  asked  Hornigold  again. 

"  Alvarado." 

"  Where  got  you  that  name  ?  " 

"  It  was  given  me  by  His  Excellency,  the  Vice- 
roy." 

"  And  wherefore  ?  " 

There  was  something  so  tremendous  in  Horni- 
gold's  interest  that  in  spite  of  himself  the  young  man 
felt  compelled  to  answer. 

"  It  was  his  pleasure." 

"  Had  you  not  a  name  of  your  own  ?  " 

"  None  that  I  know  of." 

"  What  mean  you  ?  " 

"  I  was  found,  a  baby,  outside  the  walls  of  Pan 
ama  in  a  little  village.  The  Viceroy  adopted  me  and 
brought  me  up.  That  is  all." 

"  When  was  this  ?  "  asked  Hornigold. 

"  After  the  sack  of  Panama.  And  the  name  of 
the  village  was — 

"  Cuchillo—  '  interrupted  Hornigold  triumph 
antly. 

"  My  God,  senor,  how  know  you  that  ?  " 
274 


BUCCANEER 


"  I  was  there." 

"  You  were  there  ?  "  cried  the  young  man. 

"Ay.- 

"  For  love  of  heaven,  can  you  tell  me  who  I  am, 
what  I  am  ?  " 

"  In  good  time,  young  sir,  and  for  a  price.  At 
present  I  know  but  one  thing." 

"  That  is " 

''  There  lies  your  mother,"  answered  the  buc 
caneer  slowly,  pointing  to  the  white  figure  on  the 
sand. 

"  My  mother !  Hadre  de  Dios  !  "  cried  Alvarado, 
stepping  forward  and  looking  down  upon  the  up 
turned  face  with  its  closely  cut  white  hair,  showing 
beautiful  in  the  moonlight.  "  God  rest  her  soul, 
she  hath  a  lovely  face  and  died  in  defence  of  her 
honor  like  the  gentlewoman  she  should  be.  My 
mother — how  know  you  this  ?  " 

"  In  the  sack  of  Panama  a  woman  gave  me  a  male 
child,  and  for  money  I  agreed  to  take  it  and  leave  it 
in  a  safe  and  secluded  spot  outside  the  city  walls.  I 
carried  it  at  the  hazard  of  my  life  as  far  as  Cuchillo 
and  there  left  it." 

"  But  how  know  you  that  the  child  you  left  is 
I? " 

"  Around  the  baby's  neck  the  mother,  ere  she 
gave  him  to  me,  placed  this  curious  cross  you  wear. 

275 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


'Tis  of  such  cunning  workmanship  that  there  is 
naught  like  it  under  the  sun  that  ever  I  have  seen. 
I  knew  it  even  in  the  faint  light  when  my  eyes  fell 
upon  it.  I  left  the  child  with  a  peasant  woman  to 
take  him  where  I  had  been  directed.  I  believed  him. 
safe.  On  leaving  Panama  that  village  lay  in  our 
backward  path.  We  burned  it  down.  I  saw  the 
baby  again.  Because  I  had  been  well  paid  I  saved 
him  from  instant  death  at  the  hands  of  the  buc 
caneers,  who  would  have  tossed  him  in  the  air  on  the 
point  of  their  spears.  I  shoved  the  crucifix,  which 
would  have  tempted  them  because  it  was  silver, 
underneath  the  dress  and  left  the  child.  He  was 
alive  when  we  departed." 

"  And  the  day  after/'  cried  Alvarado,  "  de  Lara's 
troops  came  through  that  village  and  found  me  still 
wearing  that  cross.  My  mother!  Loving  God,  can 
it  be  ?  But  my  father " 

"  What  shall  I  have  if  I  tell  you?  " 

"  Riches,  wealth,  all—      Set  us  free  and 

"  Not  now.     I  can  not  now.     Wait." 

"  At  least,  Donna  Mercedes." 

"  Man,  'twould  be  iny  life  that  would  pay ;  but  I'll 
keep  careful  watch  over  her.  I  have  yet  some  influ 
ence  with  the  Captain.  To-morrow  I'll  find  a  way  to 
free  you — you  must  do  the  rest." 

"  Mercedes,"  said  Alvarado,  "  heardst  thou  all?  " 
276 


BUCCANEER 


"  But  little,"  answered  the  girl. 

"  That  lady — is  believed  to  have  been  my 
mother !  " 

"  Gentle  or  simple,"  said  the  girl,  "  she  died  in  de 
fence  of  her  honor,  like  the  noblest,  the  best.  This 
for  thee,  good  sister,"  she  whispered,  bending  down 
and  kissing  the  pale  forehead.  "  And  may  I  do  the 
like  when  my  time  comes.  Thou  shouldst  be  proud 
of  her,  my  Alvarado,"  she  said,  looking  up  at  him. 
"  See ! "  she  cried  suddenly  as  the  resemblance, 
which  was  indeed  strong  between  them,  struck  her. 
:e  Thou  hast  her  face.  Her  white  hair  was  once 
golden  like  thine.  He  tells  the  truth.  Oh,  sir,  for 
Christ's  sake,  have  pity  upon  us !  " 

A  messenger  came  staggering  toward  them  across 
the  woods. 

"  Master  Hornigold,"  he  cried. 

"  Ay,  ay." 

"  We've  taken  the  town.  The  Captain  wants  you 
and  your  prisoners.  You'll  find  him  in  the  guard 
room.  Oh,  ho,  there's  merry  times  to-night  in  La 
Guayra !  All  hell's  let  loose,  and  we  are  devils." 
He  laughed  boisterously  and  drunkenly  as  he  spoke 
and  lurched  backward  over  the  sands. 

"  We  must  be  gone,"  said  Hornigold.  "  Rise,  mis 
tress.  Come,  sir." 

"  But  this  lady,"  urged  Alvarado — his  lips  could 
277 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


scarcely  form  the  unfamiliar  word  "  mother  •' — and 
the  good  priest  ?    You  will  not  leave  them  here  ?  " 

"  The  rising  tide  will  bear  them  out  to  sea." 

"  A  moment — by  your  leave/'  said  Alvarado,  step 
ping  toward  the  dead.  Assisted  by  Mercedes,  for  he 
was  still  bound,  he  stooped  down  and  touched  his 
lips  to  those  of  the  dead  woman,  whispering  a 
prayer  as  he  did  so.  Rising  to  his  feet  he  cried : 

"  But  my  father — who  is  he — who  was  he  ?  " 

"  We  shall  find  that  out." 

"  But  his  name  ?  " 

"  I'm  not  sure,  I  can  not  tell  now,"  answered  Hor- 
nigold  evasively ;  "  but  with  this  clew  the  rest  should 
be  easy.  Trust  me,  and  when  we  can  discuss  this 
matter  undisturbed— 

"  But  I  would  know  now !  " 

'  You  forget,  young  sir,  that  you  are  a  prisoner, 
and  must  suit  your  will  to  iny  pleasure.  Forward !  " 

But  the  soul  of  the  old  buccaneer  was  filled  with 
fierce  joy.  He  thought  he  knew  the  secret  of  the 
crucifix  now.  The  Spanish  captain's  mother  lay 
dead  upon  the  sands,  but  his  father  lived.  He  was 
sure  of  it.  He  would  free  Alvarado  and  bring  him 
down  upon  Morgan.  He  chuckled  with  fiendish  de 
light  as  he  limped  along.  He  had  his  revenge  now; 
it  lay  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  'twas  a  rare  one 
indeed.  Mercedes  being  bound  again,  the  little 

278 


BUCCANEER 


party  marched  across  the  beach  and  the  bodies  of 
the  priest  and  the  nun  were  left  alone  while  the 
night  tide  came  rippling  up  the  strand. 

Scarcely  had  the  party  disappeared  within  the  gate 
of  the  fort  when  the  priest  slowly  and  painfully 
lifted  himself  on  his  hands  and  crawled  toward  the 
woman.  While  the  buccaneer  had  talked  with  the 
abbess  he  had  returned  to  consciousness  and  had 
listened.  Bit  by  bit  he  gathered  the  details  of  her 
story,  and  in  truth  he  knew  it  of  old.  By  turning 
his  head  he  had  seen  the  crucifix  on  the  young  man's 
breast  and  he  also  had  recognized  it.  He  lay  still 
and  silent,  however,  feigning  death,  for  to  have  dis 
covered  himself  would  have  resulted  in  his  instant 
despatch.  When  they  had  gone  he  painfully  crawled 
over  to  the  body  of  the  poor  nun. 

"  Isabella/'  he  murmured,  giving  her  her  birth 
name,  "  thou  didst  suffer.  Thou  tookest  thine  own 
life,  but  the  loving  God  will  forgive  thee.  I  am  glad 
that  I  had  strength  and  courage  to  absolve  thee  be 
fore  I  fell.  And  I  did  not  know  thee.  ?Tis  so  many 
years  since.  Thy  son,  that  brave  young  captain — I 
will  see  thee  righted.  I  wonder — 

He  moved  nearer  to  her,  scrutinizing  her  care 
fully,  and  then,  with  an  apology  even  to  the  dead, 
the  old  man  opened  the  front  of  her  gown. 

"  Ay,  ay,  I  thought  so,"  he  said,  as  his  eye  caught 
279 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


a  glimpse  of  a  gold  chain  against  her  white  neck. 
Gently  he  lifted  it,  unclasped  it,  drew  it  forth. 
There  was  a  locket  upon  it.  Jewels  sparkled  upon 
its  surface.  She  had  worn  it  all  these  years. 

"  0,  vanitas  vanitatum!"  murmured  the  priest, 
yet  compassionately.  "  What  is  it  that  passes  the 
love  of  woman  ?  " 

He  slipped  it  quietly  within  the  breast  of  his  habit 
and  then  fell  prostrate  on  the  sand,  faint  from  pain 
and  loss  of  blood.  Long  the  two  figures  lay  there  in 
the  moonlight  while  the  rising  tide  lipped  the  shin 
ing  sands.  The  cool  water  at  last  restored  conscious 
ness  to  one  of  the  still  forms,  but  though  they  laved 
the  beautiful  face  of  the  other  with  tender  caresses 
they  could  not  call  back  the  troubled  life  that  had 
passed  into  peaceful  eternity.  Painfully  the  old 
priest  raised  himself  upon  his  hands  and  looked 
about  him. 

"  O  God !  "  he  murmured,  "  give  me  strength  to 
live  until  I  can  tell  the  story.  Sister  Maria  Chris 
tina — Isabella  that  was — thou  were  brave  and  thou 
wert  beautiful;  thou  hast  served  our  Holy  Church 
long  and  well.  If  I  could  only  lay  thee  in  some  con 
secrated  ground — but  soul  like  to  thine  makes  holy 
e'en  the  sea  which  shall  bear  thee  away.  Shriven 
thou  wert,  buried  thou  shalt  be." 

The  man  struggled  to  his  knees,  clasped  his  hands 


280 


BUCCANEER 


before  him,  and  began  the  burial  service  of  his  an 
cient  Church. 

"  We  therefore  commit  her  body  into  the  great 
deep/'  he  said,  "  looking  for  the  general  resurrection 
in  the  last  day,  and  the  life  of  the  world  to 
come " 

The  water  was  washing  around  him  ere  he  finished 
his  mournful  task,  and  with  one  long  look  of  benison 
and  farewell  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  staggered  along 
the  road  down  the  beach.  Slowly  he  went,  but  pres 
ently  he  reached  the  turn  where  began  the  ascent  of 
the  mountain.  Before  he  proceeded  he  halted  and 
looked  long  toward  the  flaming,  shrieking,  ruined 
town.  The  flooding  tide  was  in  now  and  the  break 
ers  were  beating  and  thundering  far  across  the 
sands.  The  body  of  the  abbess  was  gone. 

The  old  man  drew  himself  up,  lifted  his  trembling 
hands  and  prayed;  he  prayed  again  for  the  soul  of 
the  woman;  he  prayed  for  the  young  man,  that  he 
might  learn  the  truth ;  he  prayed  for  the  beautiful 
damsel  who  loved  him;  he  prayed  for  the  people, 
the  hapless  people  of  the  doomed  town,  the  helpless, 
outraged  women,  the  bereft  mothers,  the  tortured 
men,  the  murdered  children,  and  as  he  prayed  he 
called  down  the  curse  of  God  upon  those  who  had 
wrought  such  ruin. 

"  Slay  them,  O  God !  Strike  and  spare  not !  Cut 
281 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


them  off  root  and  branch  who  have  despoiled  thy 
people  Israel.  They  have  taken  the  sword  and  may 
they  perish  by  it  as  was  promised  of  old !  " 

A  gray,  grim,  gaunt  figure,  bloodstained,  pale,  he 
stood  there  in  that  ghastly  light,  invoking  the  judg 
ment  of  God  upon  Morgan  and  his  men  ere  he  turned 
away  and  was  lost  in  the  darkness  of  the  mountain. 


282 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   XVII 

WHICH    DESCRIBES   AN    AUDIENCE  WITH    SIR  HENRY  MORGAN 

AND  THE  TREACHERY  BY  WHICH  CAPTAIN  ALVARADO 

IS   BENEFITED 


HE  clock  on  the  wall  was  striking  eleven 
as  Hornigold  forced  his  prisoners  into 
the  guardroom  of  the  first  fort  that  had 
been  captured,  which,  as  it  was  the 
larger  of  the  two,  Mor 
gan  had  selected  as  his 
head  quarters.  M  e  r  - 
cedes'  soul  had  turned  to 
stone  at  the  sights  and 
sounds  which  met  her  as 
she  passed  through  the 
town  where  the  hellish 
revelry  was  now  in  full 
blast.  The  things  she 
witnessed  and  heard  were 


enough  to  appall  the  stoutest  heart  that  ever  beat 
within  the  rudest  breast.  She  forgot  her  own  danger 
in  her  sympathy  for  the  suffering  inhabitants  of  the 
devoted  town.  Ghastly  pale  and  sick  with  horror, 

283 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


she  tottered  and  staggered  as  she  entered  the  room. 
As  for  the  Seilora  Agapida,  she  had  collapsed  long 
since,  and  for  the  last  one  hundred  yards  of  the 
journey  had  been  dragged  helplessly  along  by  two  of 
her  captors,  who  threw  her  in  a  senseless  heap  on  the 
stone  nagging  of  the  great  vaulted  chamber. 

The  agony  and  suffering,  the  torture  and  death, 
the  shame  and  dishonor  of  his  people  affected  Al- 
varado  differently.  His  soul  flamed  within  his  breast 
with  pity  for  the  one,  rage  for  the  other.  He  lusted 
and  thirsted  to  break  away  and  single-handed  rush 
upon  the  human  wolves  and  tigers,  who  were  despoil 
ing  women,  torturing  men,  murdering  children,  as  if 
they  had  been  devils.  The  desire  mastered  him,  and 
he  writhed  and  struggled  in  his  bonds,  but  unavail- 
ingly. 

It  was  a  haggard,  distracted  pair,  therefore,  which 
was  brought  before  the  chief  buccaneer.  Morgan 
sat  at  the  head  of  the  guardroom,  on  a  platform, 
a  table  before  him  strewn  with  reckless  prodigality 
with  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  stolen  from  altar  and 
sideboard  indifferently,  some  piled  high  with  food, 
others  brimming  with  a  variety  of  liquors,  from  the 
rich  old  wines  of  Xeres  to  the  fiery  native  rum.  On 
one  side  of  the  captain  was  a  woman.  Pale  as  a 
ghost,  the  young  and  beautiful  widow  of  a 
slaughtered  officer,  in  her  disordered  array  she 

284 


BUCCANEER 


shrank  terrified  beneath  his  hand.  L'Ollonois,  Teach 
and  de  Lussan  were  also  in  the  room.  By  each  one 
cowered  another  woman  prisoner.  Teach  was  roar 
ing  out  a  song,  that  song  of  London  town,  with  its 
rollicking  chorus: 

"  Though  life  now  is  pleasant  and  sweet  to  the  sense, 
We'll  be  damnably  moldy  a  hundred  years  hence." 

The  room  was  full  of  plunder  of  one  sort  and  an 
other,  and  the  buccaneers  were  being  served  by 
frightened  negro  slaves,  their  footsteps  quickened 
and  their  obedience  enforced  by  the  sight  of  a  dead 
black  in  one  corner,  whom  de  Lussan  had  knifed  a 
short  time  since  because  he  had  been  slow  in  coming 
to  his  call.  The  smell  of  spilled  liquor,  of  burnt 
powder,  and  of  blood,  indescribable  and  sickening, 
hung  in  the  close,  hot  air.  Lamps  and  candles  were 
flaring  and  spluttering  in  the  room  but  the  greater 
illumination  came  through  the  open  casements  from 
the  roaring  fires  of  burning  houses  outside.  The 
temptation  to  join  in  the  sack  of  the  town  had  been 
too  much  for  Hornigold's  remaining  men,  conse 
quently  he  and  those  conveying  SefLora  Agapida 
alone  attended  the  prisoners.  These  last,  after 
throwing  the  duenna  recklessly  upon  the  floor,  hur 
ried  out  after  the  rest,  leaving  the  officers  and  women 
alone. 

285 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  Silence !  "  roared  Morgan,  as  his  eye  fell  upon 
the  group  entering  the  lower  end  of  the  great  hall. 
"  Pipe  down,  thou  bellowing  bull ! "  he  shouted, 
throwing  a  silver  cup  that  Cellini  might  have  chased, 
at  the  head  of  the  half  drunken  Teach.  "  Who's 
there?  Scuttle  me,  'tis  our  spitfire  and  the  gallant 
captain,  with  that  worthy  seaman  Hornigold !  Ad 
vance,  friends.  Thou  art  welcome  to  our  cheer. 
Drive  them  forward,  Hornigold,"  he  cried,  as  he 
saw  Mercedes  and  Alvarado  made  no  attempt  to 
move. 

"  Advance  quickly,"  whispered  Hornigold  to  Al 
varado;  "  to  cross  him  now  were  death." 

Seizing  them  with  a  great  show  of  force  he  shoved 
them  down  the  hall  to  the  foot  of  the  platform,  in 
front  of  the  revellers. 

"  I  welcome  thee  to  our  court,  fair  lady,  and  you, 
brave  sir.  What  say  ye,  gentles  all  ?  Rum  for  the 
noble  captain,  here,  and  wine  for  the  lady,"  called 
out  Morgan,  bowing  over  the  table  in  malicious  mock 
ery. 

"  I  drink  with  no  murderer,"  said  Alvarado  firmly, 
thrusting  the  negro,  who  proffered  him  a  glass, 
violently  aside  with  his  shoulder,  causing  him  to 
topple  over,  drenching  himself  with  the  liquor. 

"  Ha !  Is  it  so  ?  "  laughed  Morgan  in  a  terrible 
manner.  "  Hark'ee,  my  young  cock,  thou  shalt  crave 

286 


BUCCANEER 


and  beg  and  pray  for  another  drink  at  my  hand  pres 
ently — and  get  it  not.  But  there  is  another  cup  thou 
shalt  drink,  ay,  and  that  to  the  dregs.  Back,  you !  I 
would  speak  with  the  lady.  Well,  Donna  Mercedes," 
he  continued,  "  art  still  in  that  pridef  ul  mood  ?  " 

Silence.  The  girl  stood  erect,  disdainfully  looking 
him  full  in  the  face. 

"  I  shall  break  thee  yet,  proud  wench !  "  he 
shouted. 

"  Perhaps  the  demoiselle  is  jealous  of  thy  present 
companion,  Sir  Captain,"  sneered  de  Lussan 
smoothly  in  his  courtliest  manner. 

"  Scuttle  me !  That's  well  thought  on,"  laughed 
Morgan.  "  And  I'll  add  fuel  to  the  fire." 

As  he  spoke  he  clasped  the  terrified  woman  on  his 
right  around  the  waist,  and  though  she  struggled  and 
drew  away  from  him  in  horror  and  disgust,  he  kissed 
her  full  upon  the  lips.  The  woman  shuddered  loath- 
ingly  when  he  released  her,  put  her  face  down  in 
her  hands  and  sobbed  low  and  bitterly. 

"  What  sayest  thou  to  that,  sweet  Mercedes  ?  " 

"  I  say  may  God  have  mercy  on  the  soul  of  yon 
poor  woman,"  answered  Mercedes  disdainfully. 

"Best  pray  for  thine  own  soul,  madam,"  he  roared. 
"  Come  hither!  What,  you  move  not?  Black  Dog, 
Black  Dog,  I  say !  " 


287 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


The  huge  maroon  lurched  from  behind  his 
master's  chair,  where  he  had  lain  half -drunken. 

"  Fetch  me  that  woman  !  " 

Mercedes  was  bound  and  could  not  at  first  release 
her  hands,  but  as  the  maroon  shambled  toward  her 
she  sprang  back  struggling. 

"  Alvarado,  Alvarado  !  "  she  screamed.  "  Help 
me,  save  me !  " 

Like  a  maddened  bull,  though  his  hands  were 
bound  also,  Alvarado  threw  himself  upon  the  negro. 
The  force  with  which  he  struck  him  hurled  him 
backward  and  the  two  fell  to  the  floor,  the  maroon 
beneath.  His  head  struck  a  corner  of  the  step  with 
a  force  that  would  have  killed  a  white  man.  In  an 
instant,  however,  the  unbound  negro  was  on  his  feet. 
He  whipped  out  his  dagger  and  would  have  plunged 
it  into  the  breast  of  the  prostrate  Spaniard  had  not 
Mercedes,  lightly  bound,  for  being  a  woman  they 
thought  it  not  necessary  to  be  unusually  severe  in 
her  lashings,  wrenched  free  her  hands  and  caught 
the  half-breed's  upraised  arm. 

"  Mercy !  "  she  screamed,  while  struggling  to 
divert  the  blow,  looking  toward  Morgan. 

"  Hold  your  hand,  Black  Dog,"  answered  that 
worthy.  "  Leave  the  man  and  come  hither.  This 
is  thy  first  appeal,  lady.  You  know  my  power  at 


BUCCANEER 


last,  eh  ?  Down  on  your  knees  and  beg  for  his 
life !  " 

Instantly  Mercedes  sank  to  her  knees  and 
stretched  out  her  hands,  a  piteous,  appealing,  lovely 
figure. 

"  Spare  him,  spare  him !  "  she  cried. 

"  What  would  you  do  for  him  ?  " 

"  My  life  for  his,"  she  answered  bravely. 

"  ^ay,  Mercedes,"  interposed  Alvarado,  "  let  him 
work  his  will  on  me." 

"  There  are  worse  places,  thou  seest,  lady,  than  by 
my  side,"  sneered  Morgan.  "  By  heaven,  'twas  a 
pretty  play,  was  it  not,  mates?  I  spare  him,  but 
remember,  'tis  for  you.  Harry  Morgan's  way.  Now 
reward  me.  Hither,  I  say !  Go,  you  woman !  "  he 
struck  the  woman  he  had  kissed  a  fierce  blow  with 
his  naked- fist — "Away  from  me!  Your  place  is 
needed  for  your  betters.  Here  lady— - 

"  Captain  Morgan,"  cried  Hornigold,  suddenly  in 
terrupting  him.  "  I  bethink  me  you  should  send 
men  to  seize  the  mountain  pass  that  leads  to  Caracas 
at  once,  else  we  may  have  troops  upon  us  in  the 
morning." 

It  was  a  bold  diversion    and    yet  it    succeeded. 

There  could  be  no  safe  feasting  in  La  Guayra  with 

that  open  road.     Morgan  had  overlooked  it,  but  the 

boatswain's  words  recalled  it  to  him;  for  the  moment 

19  CP9 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


he  forgot  the  prisoners  and  the  women.  Safety 
was  a  paramount  consideration. 

"  I  forgot  it,"  he  answered.  "  Curse  me,  how  can 
I?  The  villains  are  too  drunk  with  rum  and  blood 
and  fury  to  be  despatched." 

"  A  force  must  be  assembled  at  once,"  urged  Hor- 
nigold,  insistently,  "  lest  some  have  escaped  who 
would  bring  word  to  the  Viceroy.  He  would  be 
upon  us  in  a  day  with  an  army  too  great  for  resist 
ance.  If  you  intend  not  to  rot  here  in  La  Guayra, 
or  be  caught  in  a  death  trap,  we  must  be  up  to  the 
mountain  top  beforehand.  Once  they  seize  the  pass, 
we  are  helpless." 

"  That's  well  said,  Hornigold,"  cried  Morgan,  who 
was  not  so  drunk  that  he  could  not  realize  the  prac 
tical  value  of  Hornigold's  suggestion  and  the  great 
danger  of  disregarding  his  advice.  "  The  pass  must 
be  seized  at  all  hazard.  With  that  in  our  possession 
we  may  bide  our  time.  I  thought  to  wait  until  to 
morrow,  but  you're  right.  We've  feasted  and  drunk 
enough  for  the  night.  To-morrow  Donna  de  Lara ! 
Guards  for  the  pass  now—  But  how  to  get  them  ?  " 

He  rose  to  his  feet  as  he  spoke  and  came  down  the 
hall. 

"  Teach  and  L'Ollonois,  follow  me !  "  he  cried. 
"  Gather  up  fifty  of  the  soberest  men  and  lead  them 
up  the  mountain  road  till  you  reach  the  pass,  and 

290 


BUCCANEER 


then  hold  it  till  I  come.  Nay,  no  hesitation/'  he 
roared.  "  Canst  not  see  the  necessity  ?  Unless  we 
are  masters  of  that  pass  we  are  caught  like  rats  in  a 
trap  here  in  La  Guayra.  To-morrow  or  the  next 
day  we  shall  march  up  toward  Caracas.  Your  share 
of  the  treasure  and  your  women  shall  be  held  safe. 
You  shall  have  first  consideration  on  the  other  side 
of  the  mountains.  Nay,  I  will  have  it  so !  "  He 
stamped  his  foot  in  furious  rage.  "  We've  all  had 
too  much  drink  already/'  he  continued,  "  now  we 
must  make  things  secure.  Hornigold,  take  charge 
of  this  fort.  I  leave  the  prisoners  with  you.  Guard 
them  well.  Treat  the  lady  well  also.  Do  what  you 
like  with  the  other,  only  keep  him  alive.  One  of 
you  send  Braziliano  to  me.  He  shall  have  the  other 
fort.  And  you  and  I,  Monsieur  de  Lussan,  will  take 
account  of  the  men  here  in  the  town  and  bring  them 
into  such  order  as  we  can." 

Although  Teach  and  L'Ollonois  had  no  mind  to 
leave  the  pleasures  open  to  them  in  La  Guayra,  yet 
they  were  both  men  of  intelligence  and  could  easily 
see  the  absolute  necessity  for  the  precaution  sug 
gested  by  Hornigold  and  accepted  by  their  captain. 
If  they  held  the  passage  over  the  mountains,  and 
fifty  men  could  hold  it  against  a  thousand,  no  Span 
iard  could  come  at  them.  So  the  little  group,  leav 
ing  the  wretched  women,  the  two  prisoners,  and 

291 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


Hornigold,  sallied  out  into  the  infernal  night.  It 
•was  a  difficult  thing  for  them  to  find  a  sufficient 
number  of  sober  pirates,  but  by  persuading,  threat 
ening,  and  compelling  they  at  last  gathered  a  force 
of  the  least  drunken  knaves,  with  which  they  set 
forth  on  the  road. 

The  fires  which  had  been  wantonly  kindled  in 
different  places  by  the  buccaneers  were  making  such 
headway  that  Morgan  instantly  saw  that  especial 
efforts  would  be  needed  to  prevent  the  complete 
destruction  of  the  town.  He  wanted  La  Guayra  for 
his  base  of  supplies  for  the  present,  and  with  tre 
mendous  energy,  seconded  by  de  Lussan  and  some  of 
the  soberer  men,  he  routed  out  the  buccaneers  and 
set  them  to  work. 

"  You  have  saved  me  for  the  moment/'  said  Mer 
cedes,  gratefully,  turning  to  Hornigold  as  he  led  her 
away  from  the  hall. 

"  'Twas  not  for  care  of  you,"  hissed  out  the  old 
man,  malevolently,  "  but  that  I'd  fain  balk  him  in 
every  desire  he  cherishes,  even  of  possessing  you." 

1  Whatever  it  was,  I  am  thankful,  sefior.  You 
have  my  prayers — 

"  Prayers,"  laughed  the  old  sailor,  "  it  hath  been 
sixty  years  since  I  heard  those  canting  Puritans,  my 
mother  and  father,  pray.  I  want  no  prayers.  But 


292 


BUCCANEER 


come,  I  must  put  you  in  ward.  There  should  be 
strong-rooms  in  this  castle." 

He  summoned  a  slave  and  found  what  he  wanted. 
Mercedes,  and  Seiiora  Agapida,  who  was  fetched  by 
other  slaves,  were  locked  in  one  room,  Alvarado  was 
thrust  into  another.  As  soon  as  he  could  do  so,  after 
making  some  provision  for  the  comfort  of  the 
woman,  Hornigold  came  down  to  him. 

"  Senor,"  he  said,  "  the  band  is  drunk  and  help 
less.  One  hundred  resolute  men  could  master  them. 
Morgan  means  to  march  to  Caracas  to-morrow.  He 
can  not  get  his  men  in  shape  to  do  so  as  long  as 
liquor  flows  in  La  Guayra.  If  I  set  you  free,  what 
can  you  do  ?  " 

"  There  is  a  way  over  the  mountains,"  answered 
Alvarado.  "  A  secret  way,  known  only  to  the  In 
dians." 

"  Know  you  this  path  ?  " 

"  It  has  been  pointed  out  to  me." 

"Is  it  a  practicable  way ?  " 

"It  has  been  abandoned  for  fifty  years,  but  I 
could  follow  it  to  Caracas." 

"  And  once  there,  what  then  ?  " 

"  There,  if  the  Viceroy  be  not  gone,  and  I  do  not 
believe  he  has  yet  departed,  are  one  thousand  sol 
diers  to  re-take  the  city." 

"  And  if  they  be  gone  ?  " 
293 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  I'll  raise  the  citizens,  the  household  guards,  the 
savages,  and  the  slaves !  " 

"  Can  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  Free  me  and  see,"  answered  Alvarado,  with  such 
resolution  that  he  convinced  the  sailor.  "  The  men 
of  Caracas  love  the  daughter  of  the  Viceroy.  They 
are  not  inexperienced  in  arms.  I  will  lead  them. 
The  advantage  of  numbers  will  be  with  us.  If  you 
free  me,  I  take  it  we  will  have  a  friend  within  the 
walls.  Success  is  certain.  We  have  too  much  to 
revenge,"  he  added,  his  face  flushing  with  rage  at 
the  thought  of  it  all. 

"  That's  well,"  answered  Hornigold.  "  If  I  free 
you  what  reward  shall  I  have  ?  " 

"  I  will  cover  you  with  treasure." 

"  And  guarantee  my  life  and  liberty  ?  " 

"  They  shall  be  held  inviolate." 

"  We  captured  the  Porto  Bcllo  plate  ship,  and 
were  wrecked  two  days  ago  a  league  or  so  to  the 
westward — 

"  I  saw  the  ship  the  day  of  the  storm,  but  marked 
it  not,"  interrupted  the  officer. 

"  Ay.  We  buried  the  treasure.  Shall  I  have  my 
share?" 

"  All  that  thou  canst  take,  if  the  honor  of  the 
lady  be  preserved.  I  answer  for  the  Viceroy." 

"  Will  you  swear  it  ?  " 

294 


BUCCANEER 


"  Yes." 

"  By  your  mother's  cross? " 

"  By  my  mother's  cross,  I  swear.  I  will  keep  my 
faith  with  you,  so  help  me  God!  " 

"  I  believe  in  no  God,  but  you  do,  and  that  suf 
fices.  You  shall  go/'  cried  the  buccaneer,  all  his  ob 
jections  satisfied.  "  But  as  you  love  the  woman,  lose 
no  time.  I'll  be  at  the  west  gate  under  the  rocks  at 
ten  o'clock  to-morrow  night.  You  know  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  go  on." 

"  I'll  open  the  gate  for  you  and  leave  the  rest  to 
you.  You  must  be  there  with  your  force.  Now,  go." 

"  I  shall  be  there.  But  I  can  not  leave  without 
Donna  Mercedes." 

"  And  you  can't  go  with  her.  Think !  Could  she 
make  her  way  over  the  mountains  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  but " 

"  I'll  watch  over  her  with  my  life,"  urged  the 
One-Eyed.  "  My  share  of  the  treasure  depends 
upon  her  safety,  you  said." 

"  But  Morgan " 

"  I  hate  him  with  a  hatred  greater  than  thine." 

"  He  is  thy  captain." 

"  He  betrayed  me,  and  I  swore  to  take  such  ven 
geance  as  was  never  heard  before,  to  make  him 
suffer  such  torments  by  my  hand  as  were  never  felt 

outside  of  hell." 

295 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  You  would  betray  him  ?  " 

"  It  was  for  that  I  came  with  him !  for  that  I  live. 
He  craves  and  covets  the  Donna  Mercedes.  He  shall 
not  have  her.  Trust  me  to  interpose  at  the  last 
moment." 

"  Is  this  true  ?     Can  I  believe  you  ?  " 

"  Else  why  should  I  jeopard  my  life  by  freeing 
you?  I  hate  him,  I  tell  you.  Remember!  The 
west  gate !  There  are  not  three  hundred  men  here. 
The  best  fifty  have  gone  with  Teach  and  L'Ollonois, 
the  rest  are  drunken  and  cowards.  Here  are 
weapons.  Wrap  yourself  in  this  cloak,  and  come. 
Say  no  word  to  any  one  on  the  way.  By  Satan,  as 
you  love  the  wench,  lose  no  time !  " 

As  he  spoke,  the  old  man  cut  the  bonds  of  Al- 
varado,  belted  upon  him  dagger  and  sword,  thrust  a 
charged  pistol  in  his  hand,  covered  his  head  with  a 
steel  cap,  and  threw  a  long  cloak  around  him.  The 
two  then  went  forth  into  the  night.  Avoiding  the 
notice  of  others,  they  hastened  along  the  deserted 
parapet,  for  there  were  none  to  keep  watch  or  guard, 
until  they  came  to  one  of  the  ladders  by  which  the 
buccaneers  had  entered  the  town.  Down  it  Al- 
varado,  first  swearing  again  on  the  cross,  on  his 
honor,  to  respect  his  agreement  with  Hornigold  and 
again  receiving  the  man's  assurance,  dropped  hastily 
to  the  ground. 

296 


BUCCANEER 


There  was  no  one  to  look,  and  lie  dashed  recklessly 
across  the  narrow  strip  of  sand  to  the  shadow  of  the 
cliffs,  along  which  he  ran  until  he  came  opposite  the 
place  of  his  mother's  death.  The  white  water  was 
rolling  and  crashing  on  the  beach,  and  the  body  was 
gone.  With  a  hasty  petition  for  the  repose  of  her 
soul,  he  ran  on  until  he  reached  the  turn  of  the 
road.  There,  like  the  priest,  he  made  another  prayer, 
and  it  was  a  prayer  not  different  from  that  which 
had  been  voiced  so  short  a  time  before. 

But  his  petitions  were  soon  over.  It  was  a  time 
for  work,  not  prayer.  No  moment  could  be  lost. 
He  girded  up  his  loins  and  turned  away  on  the  run. 
Unlike  the  priest,  however,  he  did  not  pursue  the 
mountain  road,  but,  after  going  a  short  distance,  he 
left  the  way  and  plunged  to  the  right  through  the 
trees  directly  up  the  side  of  the  hill. 

His  face  was  cut  and  slashed  by  Morgan's  dagger ; 
his  soul  had  been  racked  and  torn  by  the  scenes  he 
had  gone  through ;  the  plight  of  Mercedes  stirred 
him  to  the  very  depths ;  his  heart  yearned  over  the 
slaughtered  garrison,  the  ruined  town,  but  with  a 
strength  superhuman  he  plunged  at  the  hill,  in  spite 
of  the  forest,  groping  about  in  the  darkness  with 
frantic  energy  until  he  found  the  traces  of  a  slender, 
rocky  path  which  led  over  the  mountains. 


297 


BOOK  V 

HOW  THE  SPANIARDS  RE-TOOK  LA  GUAYRA  AND  HOW 

CAPTAIN  ALVARADO  FOUND  A  NAME  AND  SOME- 

THING  DEARER  STILL  IN  THE  CITY 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

DISCLOSES  THE  WAY  IN  WHICH  MERCEDES  DE  LARA  FOUGHT 
WITH  WOMAN'S  CUNNING  AGAINST  CAPTAIN  HENRY  MORGAN 


HE  day  after  the  sack  of  the  town  had 
been  a  busy  one  for  the  buccaneers. 
First  of  all,  Morgan  had  striven,  and 
with  some  success,  to  restore  some  sort 
of  order  within  the  walls.  By  the  aid  of  his  officers 
and  some  of  the  soberest  men  he  had  confiscated  all 
of  the  liquor  that  he  could  come  at,  and  had  stored  it 
under  a  strong  guard  in  the  west  fort,  which  he 
selected  as  his  headquarters.  The  Governor's  palace 
on  the  hill  above  was  a  more  fitting  and  luxurious 
residence  and  it  had  been  promptly  seized,  the  few 
defenders  having  fled,  in  the  morning ;  but  for  the 
present  Morgan  deemed  it  best  to  remain  in  the  city 
and  in  close  touch  with  his  men. 

The  Spanish  soldiery  had  been  cut  down  to  a  man 
the  night  before,  and  the  majority  of  the  hapless 
citizens  had  been  killed,  wounded  or  tortured.  The 
unfortunates  who  were  yet  alive  were  driven  into 
the  church  of  San  Lorenzo,  where  they  were  kept 
without  food,  water,  or  attention. 

301 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


There  were  some  children,  also,  who  had  sur 
vived  the  night,  for  the  buccaneers,  frenzied  with 
slaughter  and  inflamed  with  rum,  had  tossed  many 
of  them  on  their  sword-points  when  they  came 
across  them  in  the  streets.  By  Morgan's  orders  the 
living  were  collected  in  the  store-house  and  barracks 
of  the  Guinea  Trading  Company,  a  corporation 
which  supplied  slaves  to  the  South  American 
countries,  and  which  had  branches  in  every  city  on 
the  Caribbean.  He  did  order  food  and  water  to  be 
given  these  helpless  unfortunates,  so  their  condition 
was  not  quite  so  deplorable  as  that  of  the  rest.  It 
was  bad  enough,  however,  and  the  old  barracks 
which  had  echoed  with  the  sound  of  many  a  bitter 
cry  from  the  forlorn  lips  of  wretched  slaves,  now 
resounded  with  the  wailing  of  these  terrified  little 
ones. 

The  condition  of  the  women  of  the  city  was  be 
yond  description.  They,  too,  were  herded  together 
in  another  building,  an  ancient  convent,  but  were 
plentifully  supplied  with  every  necessary  they  could 
ask  for.  Death,  in  lieu  of  the  fate  that  had  come 
upon  them,  would  have  been  welcomed  by  many  a 
high-born  dame  and  her  humbler  sister  as  well,  but 
they  were  all  carefully  searched  and  deprived  of 
everything  that  might  serve  as  a  weapon.  They 
were  crowded  together  indiscriminately,  high  and 

302 


BUCCANEER 


low,  rich  and  poor,  black  or  white  or  red,  in  all  states 
of  disorder  and  disarray,  just  as  they  had  been  seized 
the  night  before,  some  of  them  having  been  dragged 
from  their  very  beds  by  the  brutal  ruffians. 

Some  of  the  women,  maddened  to  frenzy  by  the 
treatment  they  had  received,  screamed  and  raved; 
but  most  of  them  were  filled  with  still  misery,  over 
whelmed  by  silent  despair — waiting  hopelessly  for 
they  knew  not  what  bitter,  degrading  end.  One 
night  had  changed  them  from  happy  wives,  honored 
mothers,  light-hearted,  innocent  girls,  to  wrecks  of 
womanhood.  The  light  of  life  was  dead  in  them. 
They  were  dumb  and  unprotesting.  The  worst  had 
come  upon  them;  there  was  nothing  of  sorrow  and 
shame  they  had  not  tasted.  What  mattered  any 
thing  else?  Their  husbands,  fathers,  children, 
lovers  had  gone.  Homes  were  broken  up;  their 
property  was  wasted,  and  not  even  honor  was  left. 
They  prayed  to  die.  It  was  all  that  was  left  to  them. 

The  gates  of  the  town  and  forts  were  closed  and 
some  slight  attempt  was  made  to  institute  a  patrol 
of  the  walls,  although  the  guard  that  was  kept  was 
negligent  to  the  point  of  contempt.  As  no  enemy 
was  apprehended  Morgan  did  not  rigorously  insist 
upon  strict  watch.  Many  of  the  buccaneers  were 
still  sodden  with  liquor  and  could  be  of  no  service 
until  they  were  sobered.  They  were  dragged  to  the 

303 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


barracks,  drenched  with  water,  and  left  to  recover 
as  best  they  could. 

Fortune  favored  them  in  one  other  matter,  too, 
in  that  late  in  the  afternoon  a  handsome  frigate 
bringing  despatches  from  Carthagena,  ran  in  and 
anchored  in  the  roadstead.  Her  officers  at  once  came 
ashore  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  Commandante  of 
the  port  and  forward  their  papers  to  the  Viceroy. 
Before  they  suspected  anything,  they  were  seized 
and  ruthlessly  murdered.  To  take  possession  of  the 
frigate  thereafter  was  a  work  of  no  special  difficulty. 
The  crew  were  disposed  of  as  their  officers  had  been, 
and  the  buccaneers  rejoiced  greatly  at  the  good  luck 
that  had  brought  them  so  fine  a  ship.  On  the  next 
morning  Morgan  intended  to  march  toward  Caracas, 
whence,  after  plundering  that  town  and  exacting  a 
huge  ransom  for  the  lives  of  those  he  spared,  he 
would  lead  his  band  back  to  La  Guayra,  embark  on 
the  frigate,  and  then  bear  away  for  the  Isthmus. 

During  the  day,  Hornigold,  whose  wound  in 
capacitated  him  from  active  movement,  remained  in 
command  of  the  fort  with  special  instructions  to 
look  after  Mercedes.  By  Morgan's  orders  she  and 
her  companion  were  removed  to  the  best  room  in  the 
fort  and  luxuriously  provided  for.  He  had  not  dis 
covered  the  escape  of  Alvarado,  partly  because  he 
took  no  manner  of  interest  in  that  young  man  and 

304 


BUCCANEER 


only  kept  him  alive  to  influence  the  girl,  and  partly 
because  Hornigold  had  assured  him  that  the  prisoner 
was  taking  his  confinement  very  hardly,  that  he  was 
mad  with  anger,  in  a  raging  fever  of  disappointment 
and  anxiety,  and  was  constantly  begging  to  see  the 
captain.  The  boatswain  cunningly  suggested  that  it 
would  be  just  as  well  to  let  Alvarado  remain  in  soli 
tude,  without  food  or  water  until  the  next  day,  by 
which  time,  the  boatswain  argued,  he  would  be  re 
duced  to  a  proper  condition  of  humility  and  servi 
tude.  Morgan  found  this  advice  good.  It  was  quite 
in  consonance  with  his  desires  and  his  practices.  He 
would  have  killed  Alvarado  out  of  hand  had  he  not 
considered  him  the  most  favorable  card  with  which 
to  play  the  game  he  was  waging  with  Mercedes  for 
her  consent  to  marry  him. 

So  far  as  he  was  capable  of  a  genuine  affection, 
he  loved  the  proud  Spanish  maiden.  He  would  fain 
persuade  her  willingly  to  come  to  his  arms  rather 
than  enforce  her  consent  or  overcome  her  scruples 
by  brute  strength.  There  would  be  something  of  a 
triumph  in  winning  her,  and  this  vain,  blood-stained 
old  brute  fancied  that  he  had  sufficient  attractive 
ness  for  the  opposite  sex  to  render  him  invincible  if 
he  set  about  his  wooing  in  the  right  way.  He  thought 
he  knew  the  way,  too.  At  any  rate  he  was  disposed 
to  try  it.  Here  again  Hornigold,  upon  whom  in  the 
20  305 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


absence  of  Teach  he  depended  more  and  more,  and 
in  whom  he  confided  as  of  old,  advised  him. 

"  I  know  women/7  said  that  worthy,  and  indeed 
no  man  had  more  knowledge  of  the  class  which  stood 
for  women  in  his  mind  than  he,  "  and  all  you  want 
is  to  give  her  time.  Wait  until  she  knows  what's 
happened  to  the  rest  of  them,  and  sees  only  you  have 
power  to  protect  her,  and  she  will  come  to  heel  right 
enough.  Besides,  you  haven't  given  her  half  a 
chance.  She's  only  seen  you  weapon  in  hand.  She 
doesn't  know  what  a  man  you  are,  Captain.  Sink 
me,  if  I'd  your  looks  instead  of  this  old,  scarred,  one- 
eyed  face,  there'd  be  no  man  I'd  give  way  to  and  no 
woman  I'd  not  win !  Steer  her  along  gently  with  an 
easy  helm.  Don't  jam  her  up  into  the  wind  all  of  a 
sudden.  Women  have  to  be  coaxed.  Leave  the  girl 
alone  a  watch.  Don't  go  near  her;  let  her  think 
what  she  pleases.  Don't  let  anybody  go  near  her 
unless  it's  me,  and  she  won't  get  anything  out  of 
me,  you  can  depend  upon  that !  She'll  be  so  anxious 
to  talk  to  you  in  the  morning  that  you  can  make  her 
do  anything.  Then  if  you  can  starve  that  Spanish 
dog  and  break  his  spirit,  so  that  she'll  see  him  crawl 
ing  at  your  feet,  she'll  sicken  of  him  and  turn  to  a 
man." 

"  Scuttle  me,"  laughed  Morgan,  "  your  advice  is 

306 


BUCCANEER 


good!  I  didn't  know  you  knew  so  much  about  the 
sex." 

"  I've  mixed  up  considerable  with  them  in  sixty 
years,  Captain/'  leered  the  old  man.  "  What  I 
don't  know  about  them  ain't  worth  knowing." 

"  It  seems  so.  Well,  I'll  stay  away  from  her  till 
the  morning.  I  shall  be  busy  anyway  trying  to 
straighten  out  these  drunken  sots,  and  do  you  put 
the  screws  on  that  captain  and  leave  the  lady  alone — 
but  see  that  she  lacks  nothing." 

"  Ay,  ay,  trust  me  for  them  both." 

Hornigold  found  means  during  the  day — and  it 
was  a  matter  of  no  little  difficulty  to  elude  the 
guards  he  himself  had  placed  there — to  inform  Mer 
cedes  of  the  escape  of  Alvarado,  and  to  advise  her 
that  he  expected  the  return  of  that  young  man  with 
the  troops  of  the  Viceroy  at  ten  o'clock  that  night. 
He  bade  her  be  of  good  cheer,  that  he  did  not  think 
it  likely  that  Morgan  would  think  of  calling  upon 
her  or  of  sending  for  her  until  morning,  when  it 
would  be  too  late.  He  promised  that  he  would  watch 
over  her  and  do  what  he  could  to  protect  her ;  that  he 
would  never  leave  the  fort  except  for  a  few  moments 
before  ten  that  night,  when  he  went  to  admit  Al 
varado.  What  was  better  earnest  of  his  purpose  was 
that  he  furnished  her  with  a  keen  dagger,  small 
enough  to  conceal  in  the  bosom  of  her  dress,  and 

307 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


advised  her  if  worst  came  to  worst,  and  there  was  no 
other  way,  to  use  it.  He  impressed  on  her  that  on 
no  account  was  she  to  allow  Morgan  to  get  the 
slightest  inkling  of  his  communication  to  her,  for  if 
the  chief  buccaneer  found  this  out  Hornigold's  life 
would  not  be  worth  a  moment's  thought,  and  Alva- 
rado  would  be  balked  in  his  plans  of  rescue. 

Mercedes  most  thankfully  received  the  weapon 
and  promised  to  respect  the  confidence.  She  was 
grateful  beyond  measure,  and  he  found  it  necessary 
harshly  to  admonish  her  that  he  only  assisted  her 
because  he  had  promised  Alvarado  that  she  should 
receive  no  harm,  and  that  his  own  safety  depended 
upon  hers.  He  did  not  say  so,  but  under  other  cir 
cumstances  he  would  have  as  ruthlessly  appropriated 
her  for  himself  as  Morgan  intended  to  do,  and  with 
out  the  shadow  of  a  scruple. 

As  far  as  creature  comforts  were  concerned  the 
two  women  fared  well.  Indeed,  they  were  sumptu 
ously,  lavishly,  prodigally  provided  for.  Seiiora 
Agapida  was  still  in  a  state  of  complete  prostration. 
She  lay  helpless  on  a  couch  in  the  apartment  and 
ministering  to  her  distracted  the  poor  girl's  mind, 
yet  such  a  day  as  Mercedes  de  Lara  passed  she 
prayed  she  might  never  again  experience.  The  town 
was  filled  with  the  shouts  and  cries  of  the  buccaneers 
wandering  to  and  fro,  singing  drunken  choruses,  now 


BUCCANEER 


and  again  routing  out  hidden  fugitives  from  places 
of  fancied  security  and  torturing  them  with  ready 
ingenuity  whenever1  they  were  taken.  The  confu 
sion  was  increased  and  the  noise  diversified  by  the 
shrieks  and  groans  of  these  miserable  wretches. 
Sometimes  the  voices  that  came  through  the  high 
windows  were  those  of  women,  and  the  sound  of 
their  screams  made  the  heart  of  the  brave  girl  sink 
like  lead  in  her  breast. 

For  the  rest,  she  did  not  understand  Hornigold's 
position.  She  did  not  know  whether  to  believe  him 
or  not,  but  of  one  thing  was  she  certain.  Whereas 
she  had  been  defenceless  now  she  had  a  weapon,  and 
she  could  use  it  if  necessary.  With  that  in  hand  she 
was  mistress  at  least  of  her  own  fate. 

As  evening  drew  on,  every  thing  having  been 
attended  to,  Morgan  began  to  tire  of  his  isolation, 
and  time  hung  heavy  on  his  hands.  He  was  weary 
of  the  women  whom  he  had  hitherto  consorted  with ; 
the  other  officers,  between  whom  and  himself  there 
was  no  sort  of  friendship,  were  busy  with  their  own 
nefarious  wickednesses  in  the  different  parts  of  the 
fort  or  town,  and  he  sat  a  long  time  alone  in  the 
guard-room,  drinking,  Black  Dog,  as  usual,  pouring 
at  his  side.  The  liquor  inflamed  his  imagination  and 
he  craved  companionship.  Summoning  Hornigold  at 
last,  he  bade  him  bring  Donna  Mercedes  before  him. 

309 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


The  old  man  attempted  to  expostulate,  but  Morgan's 
mood  had  changed  and  he  brooked  no  hesitation  in 
obeying  any  order  given  by  him.  There  was  noth 
ing  for  the  boatswain  to  do  but  to  comply. 

Once  more  Mercedes,  therefore,  found  herself  in 
the  guard-room  of  the  fort  in  the  presence  of  the 
man  she  loathed  and  feared  above  all  others  in  crea 
tion.  Her  situation,  however,  was  vastly  different 
from  what  it  had  been.  On  the  first  occasion  there 
had  appeared  no  hope.  JXow  Alvarado  was  free  and 
she  had  a  weapon.  She  glanced  at  the  clock,  a 
recent  importation  from  Spain  hanging  upon  the 
wall,  as  she  entered,  and  saw  that  it  was  half-after 
nine.  Ten  was  the  hour  Hornigold  had  appointed  to 
meet  Alvarado  at  the  gate.  She  hoped  that  he 
would  be  early  rather  than  late;  and,  if  she  could 
withstand  the  buccaneer  by  persuasion,  seeming 
compliance,  or  by  force,  for  a  short  space,  all  would 
be  well.  For  she  never  doubted  that  her  lover 
would  come  for  her.  Even  if  he  had  to  come  single- 
handed  and  alone  to  fight  for  her,  she  knew  he  would 
be  there.  Therefore,  with  every  nerve  strained  al 
most  to  the  breaking  point  to  ward  off  his  advances 
and  to  delay  any  action  he  might  contemplate,  she 
faced  the  buccaneer. 

He  was  dressed  with  barbaric  magnificence  in  the 
riches  and  plunder  he  had  appropriated,  and  he  had 

310 


BUCCANEER 


adorned  his  person  with  a  profusion  of  silver  and 
gold,  and  stolen  gems.  He  had  been  seated  at  the 
table  while  served  by  the  maroon,  but,  as  she  en 
tered,  with  unusual  complaisance  he  arose  and 
bowed  to  her  with  something  of  the  grace  of  a  gentle 
man. 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  endeavoring  to  make  soft  and 
agreeable  his  harsh  voice,  "  I  trust  you  have  been 
well  treated  since  in  my  charge." 

He  had  been  drinking  heavily  she  saw,  but  as  he 
spoke  her  fair  she  would  answer  him  accordingly. 
To  treat  him  well,  to  temporize,  and  not  to  inflame 
his  latent  passion  by  unnecessarily  crossing  him, 
would  be  her  best  policy,  she  instantly  divined,  al 
though  she  hated  and  despised  him  none  the  less. 
On  his  part,  he  had  determined  to  try  the  gentler 
arts  of  persuasion,  and  though  his  face  still  bore  the 
welts  made  by  her  riding  whip  the  night  before  he 
strove  to  forget  it  and  play  the  gentleman.  He  had 
some  qualities,  as  a  buccaneer,  that  might  entitle  him 
to  a  certain  respect,  but  when  he  essayed  the  gentle 
man  his  performance  was  so  futile  that  had  it  not 
been  so  terrible  it  would  have  been  ludicrous.  She 
answered  his  question  calmly  without  exhibiting 
resentment  or  annoyance. 

"  We  have  been  comfortably  lodged  and  provided 
with  food  and  drink  in  sufficiency,  sefior." 

311 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  And  what  more  would  you  have,  Donna  Mer 
cedes?" 

"Liberty,  sir!" 

"  That  shall  be  yours.  Saving  only  my  will,  when 
you  are  married  to  me,  you  shall  be  as  free  as  air. 
A  free  sailor  and  his  free  wife,  lady.  But  will  you 
not  sit  down  ?  " 

In  compliance  with  his  request,  she  seated  herself 
on  a  chair  which  happened  to  be  near  where  she 
stood;  she  noted  with  relief  that  the  table  was  be 
tween  them. 

"Nay,  not  there,"  said  the  Captain  instantly. 
"  Here,  madam,  here,  at  my  side." 

"  Not  yet,  senor  capitan;  it  were  not  fit  that  a 
prisoner  should  occupy  so  high  a  seat  of  honor. 
Wait  until " 

"  Until  what,  pray  ?  "  he  cried,  leaning  forward. 

"  Until  that — until  I — until  we " 

In  spite  of  her  efforts  she  could  not  force  her  lips 
to  admit  the  possibility  of  the  realization  of  his 
desire. 

"  Until  you  are  Lady  Morgan  ?  "  he  cried,  his  face 
flaming. 

She  buried  her  face  in  her  hands  at  his  sugges 
tion,  for  she  feared  her  horror  in  the  thought  would 
show  too  plainly  there;  and  then  because  she  dare 
not  lose  sight  of  him,  she  constrained  herself  to  look 

312 


BUCCANEER 


at  him  once  more.  Her  cheeks  were  burning  with 
shame,  her  eyes  flashing  with  indignation,  though 
she  forced  her  lips  into  the  semblance  of  a  smile. 

"  That  surprises  you,  does  it  ?  "  continued  the  man 
with  boasting  condescension.  "  You  did  not  think 
I  designed  so  to  honor  you  after  last  night,  madam  ? 
Scuttle  me,  these  "•  —pointing  to  his  face — "  are 
fierce  love  taps,  but  I  fancy  a  strong  will — when  I 
can  break  it  to  mine  own,"  he  muttered,  "  and  I  have 
yet  to  see  that  in  man  or  woman  that  could  resist 
mine." 

She  noted  with  painful  fascination  the  powerful 
movements  of  his  lean  fingers  as  he  spoke,  for  his 
sinewy  right  hand,  wrinkled  and  hideous,  lay 
stretched  out  on  the  table  before  him,  and  he  clasped 
and  unclasped  it  unconsciously  as  he  made  his  threat. 

"  I  like  you  none  the  less  for  your  spirit,  ma'am. 
Tore  God,  it  runs  with  your  beauty.  You  are  silent," 
he  continued,  staring  at  her  with  red-eyed,  drunken 
suspicion.  "  You  do  not  answer  ?  " 

"  My  lord,"  cried  Mercedes,  "  I  know  not  what  to 
say." 

"  Say,  i  Harry  Morgan,  I  love  you  and  I  am 
yours.7  " 

"  There  is  another  present,  seiior." 

"  Where  ?  Another  ?  Who  has  dared—  "  roared 
the  buccaneer  glaring  about  him. 

313 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  Thy  servant — the  negro." 

"  Oh,"  he  laughed,  "  he  is  nothing.  Black  Dog, 
-,ve  call  him.  He  is  my  slave,  my  shadow,  my  pro 
tection.  He  is  always  by." 

An  idea  had  swiftly  flashed  into  the  young  girl's 
mind.  If  she  could  get  rid  of  the  slave  she  could 
deal  more  easily  with  the  master.  She  was  tall, 
strong,  and  Morgan,  it  appeared,  was  not  in  full  pos 
session  of  his  faculties  or  his  strength  from  the  liquor 
he  had  imbibed. 

"  Still,"  she  urged,  "  I  do  not  like  to  be  wooed  in 
the  presence  of  another,  even  though  he  be  a  slave. 
Tis  not  a  Spanish  maiden's  way,  sir." 

"  Your  will  now,  lady,"  said  the  buccaneer,  with  a 
hideous  attempt  at  gallantry,  "  is  my  law.  After 
wards — 'twill  be  another  matter.  Out,  Carib,  but  be 
within  call.  Now,  madam,  we  are  alone.  Speak  you 
the  English  tongue  ?  " 

The  conversation  had  been  carried  on  in  Spanish 
heretofore. 

"  Indifferently,  sefior." 

''  Well,  I'll  teach  it  you.  The  lesson  may  as  well 
begin  now.  Say  after  me,  '  Harry  ' — I  permit  that 
though  I  am  a  belted  knight  of  England,  made  so  by 
His  Merry  Majesty,  King  Charles,  God  rest  him. 
Drink  to  the  repose  of  the  king !  "  he  cried,  shoving 
a  cup  across  the  table  toward  her. 

314 


BUCCANEER 


Resisting  a  powerful  temptation  to  throw  it  at  him, 
and  divining  that  the  stimulant  might  be  of  assistance 
to  her  in  the  trying  crisis  in  which  she  found  herself, 
the  girl  lifted  the  cup  to  her  lips,  bowed  to  him,  and 
swallowed  a  portion  of  the  contents. 

"  Give  it  back  to  me !  "  he  shouted.  "  You  have 
tasted.it,  I  drain  it.  Now  the  lesson.  Say  after  me, 
'  Harry  Morgan  '- 

"  Harry  Morgan/'  gasped  the  girl. 

"  <  I  love  thee.'" 

With  a  swift  inward  prayer  she  uttered  the  lying 
words. 

'You  have  learned  well,  and  art  an  apt  pupil 
indeed,"  he  cried,  leering  upon  her  in  approbation 
and  lustful  desire- — his  very  gaze  was  pollution  to 
her.  "  D'ye  know  there  are  few  women  who  can 
resist  me  when  I  try  to  be  agreeable  ?  Harry  Mor 
gan's  way !  "  he  laughed  again.  "  There  be  some 
that  I  have  won  and  many  I  have  forced.  None  like 
you.  So  you  love  me?  Scuttle  me,  I  thought  so. 
Ben  Hornigold  was  right.  Woo  a  woman,  let  her  be 
clipped  willingly  in  arms — yet  there's  a  pleasure  in 
breaking  in  the  jades,  after  all.  Still,  I'm  glad  that 
you  are  in  a  better  mood  and  have  forgot  that  cursed 
Spaniard  rotting  in  the  dungeons  below,  in  favor  of 
a  better  man,  Harry — no,  I'll  say,  Sir  Henry — Mor- 


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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


gan — on  this  occasion,  at  your  service/'  he  cried, 
rising  again  and  bowing  to  her  as  before. 

She  looked  desperately  at  the  clock.  The  hour  was 
close  at  hand.  So  great  was  the  strain  under  which 
she  was  laboring  that  she  felt  she  could  not  continue 
five  minutes  longer.  Would  Alvarado  never  come? 
Would  anybody  come  ?  She  sat  motionless  and  white 
as  marble,  while  the  chieftain  stared  at  her  in  the 
pauses  of  his  monologue. 

"  Now,  madam,  since  you  have  spoke  the  words 
perhaps  you  will  further  wipe  out  the  recollection  of 
this  caress —  "  he  pointed  to  his  cheek  again.  "  Curse 
me !  "  he  cried  in  sudden  heat,  "  you  are  the  only 
human  being  that  ever  struck  Harry  Morgan  on  the 
face  and  lived  to  see  the  mark.  I'd  thought  to  wait 
until  to-morrow  and  fetch  some  starveling  priest  to 
play  his  mummery,  but  why  do  so?  We  are  alone 
here — together.  There  is  none  to  disturb  us.  Black 
Dog  watches.  You  love  me,  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  I — I—  '  she  gasped  out,  brokenly  praying  for 
strength,  and  fighting  for  time. 

'  You  said  it  once,  that's  enough.  Come,  lady, 
let's  have  happiness  while  we  may.  Seal  the  bargain 
and  kiss  away  the  blows." 

He  came  around  the  table  and  approached  her. 
Notwithstanding  the  quantity  of  liquor  he  had  taken 
he  was  physically  master  of  himself,  she  noticed  with 

316 


BUCCANEER 


a  sinking  heart.  As  he  drew  near,  she  sprang  to  her 
feet  also  and  backed  away  from  him,  throwing  out 
her  left  hand  to  ward  him  off,  at  the  same  time 
thrusting  her  right  hand  into  her  bosom. 

"  ~Not  now,"  she  cried,  finding  voice  and  word  in 
the  imminence  of  the  peril.  "  Oh,  for  God's 
sake " 

"  'Tis  useless  to  call  on  God  in  Harry  Morgan's 
presence,  mistress,  for  he  is  the  only  God  that  hears. 
Come  and  kiss  me,  thou  black  beauty — and  then— 

"  To-morrow,  for  Christ's  sake !  "  cried  the  girl. 
"  I  am  a  Christian — I  must  have  a  priest — not  now 
— to-morrow !  " 

She  was  backed  against  the  wall  and  could  go  no 
further. 

"  To-night,"  chuckled  the  buccaneer. 

He  was  right  upon  her  now.  She  thrust  him,  un 
suspicious  and  unprepared,  violently  from  her, 
whipped  out  the  dagger  that  Hornigold  had  given 
her,  and  faced  him  boldly. 

It  was  ten  o'clock  and  no  one  had  yet  appeared. 
The  struck  hour  reverberated  through  the  empty 
room.  Would  Alvarado  never  come?  Had  it  not 
been  that  she  hoped  for  him  she  would  have  driven 
the  tiny  weapon  into  her  heart  at  once,  but  for  his 
sake  she  would  wait  a  little  longer. 

"  Nay,  come  no  nearer !  "  she  cried  resolutely. 
317 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  If  you  do,  you  will  take  a  dead  woman  in  your 
arms.  Back,  I  say!  "  menacing  herself  with  the 
point. 

And  the  man  noted  that  the  hand  holding  the 
weapon  did  not  tremble  in  the  least. 

"  Thinkest  thou  that  I  could  love  such  a  man  as 
thou?"  she  retorted,  trembling  with  indignation,  all 
the  loathing  and  contempt  she  had  striven  to  repress 
finding  vent  in  her  voice.  "  I'd  rather  be  torn  limb 
from  limb  than  feel  even  the  touch  of  thy  polluting 
hand!  " 

"  Death  and  fury !  "  shouted  Morgan,  struggling 
between  rage  and  mortification,  "  thou  hast  lied  to 
me  then  ?  " 

"  A  thousand  times — yes !  Had  I  a  whip  I'd 
mark  you  again.  Come  within  reach  and  I  will  drive 
the  weapon  home !  " 

She  lifted  it  high  in  the  air  and  shook  it  in  de 
fiance  as  she  spoke. 

It  was  a  frightful  imprudence,  for  which  she  paid 
dearly,  however,  for  the  hangings  parted  and  Carib, 
who  had  heard  what  had  gone  on,  entered  the  room 
—indeed,  the  voices  of  the  man  and  woman  filled 
with  passion  fairly  rang  through  the  hall.  His 
quick  eye  took  in  the  situation  at  once.  He  carried 
at  his  belt  a  long,  heavy  knife.  Without  saying  a 
word,  he  pulled  it  out  and  threw  it  with  a  skill  born 

318 


BUCCANEER 


of  long  practice,  which  made  him  a  master  at  the 
game,  fairly  at  the  woman's  uplifted  hand.  Before 
either  Morgan  or  Mercedes  were  aware  of  his  pres 
ence  they  heard  the  whistle  of  the  heavy  blade 
through  the  air.  At  the  same  moment  the  missile 
struck  the  blade  of,  the  dagger  close  to  the  palm  of 
the  woman  and  dashed  it  from  her  hand.  Both 
weapons  rebounded  from  the  wall  from  the  violence 
of  the  blow  and  fell  at  Morgan's  feet. 

Mercedes  was  helpless. 

"  Well  done,  Carib !  "  cried  Morgan  exultantly. 
"  Never  has  that  old  trick  of  thine  served  me  better. 
Now,  you  she-devil — I  have  you  in  my  power.  Didst 
prefer  death  to  Harry  Morgan  ?  Thou  shalt  have  it, 
and  thy  lover,  too.  I'll  tear  him  limb  from  limb  and 
in  thy  presence,  too,  but  not  until  after — 

"Oh,  God!  oh,  God!"  shrieked  Mercedes,  flat 
tening  herself  against  the  wall,  shrinking  from  him 
with  wide  outstretched  arms  as  he  approached  her. 
"  Mercy !  " 

"  I  know  not  that  word.  Wouldst  cozen  me  ? 
Hast  another  weapon  in  thy  bodice?  I'll  look." 

Before  she  could  prevent  him  he  seized  her  dress 
at  the  collar  with  both  hands  and,  in  spite  of  her 
efforts,  by  a  violent  wrench  tore  it  open. 

"No  weapon  there,"  he  cried.  "Ha!  That 
brings  at  last  the  color  to  your  pale  cheek!"  he 


319 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


added,  as  the  rich  red  crimsoned  the  ivory  of  her 
neck  and  cheek  at  this  outrage. 

"  Help,  help !  "  she  screamed.  Her  voice  rang 
high  through  the  apartment  with  indignant  and  ter 
rified  appeal. 

"  Call  again/7  laughed  Morgan. 

"  Kill  me,  kill  me !  "  she  begged. 

"  Nay,  you  must  live  to  love  me !  Ho !  ho  !  "  he 
answered,  taking  her  in  his  arms. 

"  Mercy !  Help  !  "  she  cried  in  frenzy,  all  the 
woman  in  her  in  arms  against  the  outrage,  though 
she  knew  her  appeal  was  vain,  when,  wonder  of 
wonders — 

"  I  heard  a  lady's  voice,"  broke  upon  her  ears 
from  the  other  end  of  the  room. 

"  De  Lussan !  "  roared  Morgan,  releasing  her  and 
turning  toward  the  intruder.  "  Here's  no  place 
for  you.  How  came  you  here  ?  I'd  chosen  this  room 
for  myself,  I  wish  to  be  private.  Out  of  it,  and 
thank  me  for  your  life !  " 

"  I  know  not  why  you  should  have  Donna  de 
Lara  against  her  will,  and  when  better  men  are 
here,"  answered  the  Frenchman,  staring  with  bold, 
cruel  glances  at  her,  beautiful  in  her  disarray,  "  and 
if  you  keep  her  you  must  fight  for  her.  Made 
moiselle,"  he  continued,  baring  his  sword  gracefully 


««  Hast  another  weapon  in  thy  bodice?  " 


BUCCANEER 


and  saluting  her,  "  will  you  have  me  for  your 
champion  ?  " 

'His  air  was  as  gallant  as  if  he  had  been  a  gentle 
man  and  bound  in  honor  to  rescue  a  lady  in  dire 
peril  of  life  and  honor,  instead  of  another  ruffian 
inflamed  by  her  beauty  and  desirous  to  possess  her 
himself. 

"  Save  me !  Save  me/7  she  cried,  "  from  this 
man!" 

She  did  not  realize  the  meaning  of  de  Lussan's 
words,  she  only  saw  a  deliverer  for  the  present.  It 
was  ten  minutes  past  the  hour  now.  She  welcomed 
any  respite;  her  lover  might  come  at  any  moment. 

"  I  will  fight  the  both  of  you  for  her,"  cried  the 
Frenchman ;  "  you,  Black  Dog,  and  you,  Master 
Morgan.  Draw,  unless  you  are  a  coward." 

"  I  ought  to  have  you  hanged,  you  mutinous 
hound!  "  shouted  Morgan,  "  and  hanged  you  shall  be, 
but  not  until  I  have  proved  myself  your  master  with 
the  sword,  as  in  all  other  things.  Watch  the  woman, 
Carib,  and  keep  out  of  this  fray.  Lay  hand  on  her 
at  your  peril !  Remember,  she  is  mine." 

"  Or  it  may  be  mine,"  answered  de  Lussan,  as 
Morgan  dashed  at  him. 

They  engaged  without  hesitation  and  the  room 
was  filled  with  the  sound  of  ringing,  grating  steel. 
First  pulling  the  pins  from  her  glorious  hair,  Mer- 

323 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


cedes  shook  it  down  around  her  bare  shoulders,  and 
then  stood,  fascinated,  watching  the  fencers.  She 
could  make  no  movement  from  the  wall  as  the  negro 
stood  at  her  arm.  For  a  space  neither  of  the  fighters 
had  any  advantage.  De  Lussan's  skill  was  marvel 
ous,  but  the  chief  buccaneer  was  more  than  his 
match.  Presently  the  strength  and  capacity  of  the 
older  and  more  experienced  swordsman  began  to 
give  him  a  slight  advantage.  Hard  pressed,  the 
Frenchman,  still  keeping  an  inexorable  guard,  slowly 
retreated  up  the  room. 

Both  men  had  been  so  intensely  occupied  with  the 
fierce  play  that  they  had  not  heard  the  sound  of 
many  feet  outside,  a  sudden  tumult  in  the  street. 
The  keen  ear  of  the  half-breed,  however,  detected 
that  something  was  wrong. 

"  Master,"  he  cried,  "  some  one  comes.  I  hear 
shouts  in  the  night  air.  A  shot !  Shrieks — groans ! 
There  !  The  clash  of  arms !  Lower  your  weapons, 
sirs !  "  he  cried  again,  as  Spanish  war  cries  filled  the 
air.  "  We  are  betrayed;  the  enemy  is  on  us!  " 

Instantly  Morgan  and  de  Lussan  broke  away  from 
each  other. 

'  To-morrow,"  cried  the  buccaneer  captain. 

"  As  you  will,"  returned  the  other. 

But  now,  Mercedes,  staking  all  upon  her  hope, 


324 


BUCCANEER 


lifted  her  voice,  and  with  tremendous  power  begot 
by  fear  and  hope  sent  ringing  through  the  air  that 
name  which  to  her  meant  salvation — 
"  Alvarado !     Alvarado !  " 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XIX 

HOW   CAPTAIN   ALVARADO   CROSSED   THE   MOUNTAINS,  FOUND 

THE  VICEROY,  AND  PLACED   HIS  LIFE   IN  HIS  MASTER'S 

HANDS 

HE  highway  between  La  Guayra  and 
Venezuela  was  exceedingly  rough  and 
difficult,  and  at  best  barely  practicable 
for  the  stoutest  wagons.  The  road 
wound  around  the  mountains  for  a  distance  of  per 
haps  twenty-five  miles,  although  as  the  crow  flies  it 
was  not  more  than  five  miles  between  the  two  cities. 
Between  them,  however,  the  tremendous  ridge  of 
mountains  rose  to  a  height  of  nearly  ten  thousand 
feet.  Starting  from  the  very  level  of  the  sea,  the 
road  crossed  the  divide  through  a  depression  at  an 
altitude  of  about  six  thousand  feet  and  descended 
thence  some  three  thousand  feet  to  the  valley  in 
which  lay  Caracas. 

This  was  the  road  over  which  Alvarado  and  Mer 
cedes  had  come  and  on  the  lower  end  of  which  they 
had  been  captured.  It  was  now  barred  for  the  young 
soldier  by  the  detachment  of  buccaneers  under  young 
Teach  and  L'Ollonois,  who  were  instructed  to  hold 

326 


BUCCANEER 


the  pass  where  the  road  crossed  through,  or  over,  the 
mountains.  Owing  to  the  configuration  of  the  pass, 
that  fifty  could  hold  it  against  a  thousand.  It  was 
not  probable  that  news  of  the  sack  of  La  Guayra 
would  reach  Caracas  before  Morgan  descended  upon 
it,  but  to  prevent  the  possibility,  or  to  check  any 
movement  of  troops  toward  the  shore,  it  was  neces 
sary  to  hold  that  road.  The  man  who  held  it  was  in 
position  to  protect  or  strike  either  city  at  will.  It 
was,  in  fact,  the  key  to  the  position. 

Morgan,  of  course,  counted  upon  surprising  the 
unfortified  capital  as  he  had  the  seaport  town.  It 
was  the  boast  of  the  Spaniards  that  they  needed  no 
walls  about  Caracas,  since  nature  had  provided  them 
with  the  mighty  rampart  of  the  mountain  range, 
which  could  not  be  surmounted  save  in  that  one  place. 
With  that  one  place  in  the  buccaneer's  possession, 
Caracas  could  only  rely  upon  the  number  and  valor 
of  her  defenders.  To  Morgan's  onslaught  could 
only  be  opposed  a  rampart  of  blades  and  hearts. 
Had  there  been  a  state  of  war  in  existence  it  is  prob 
able  that  the  Viceroy  would  have  fortified  and  gar 
risoned  the  pass,  but  under  present  conditions  noth 
ing  had  been  done.  As  soon  as  a  messenger  from 
Teach  informed  Morgan  that  the  pass  had  been 
occupied  and  that  all  seemed  quiet  in  Caracas,  a 
fact  which  had  been  learned  by  some  bold  scouting 

327 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


on  the  farther  side  of  the  mountain,  he  was  per 
fectly  easy  as  to  the  work  of  the  morrow.  He  Would 
fall  upon  the  unwalled  town  at  night  and  carry 
everything  by  a  coup  de  main.  • 

Fortunately  for  the  Spaniards  in  this  instance,  it 
happened  that  there  was  another  way  of  access  to 
the  valley  of  Caracas  from  La  Guayra.  Directly  up 
and  over  the  mountain  there  ran  a  narrow  and  diffi 
cult  trail,  known  first  to  the  savages  and  afterwards 
to  wandering  smugglers  or  masterless  outlaws. 
Originally,  and  until  the  Spaniards  made  the  wagon 
road,  it  had  been  the  only  way  of  communication 
between  the  two  towns.  But  the  path  was  so  diffi 
cult  arid  so  dangerous  that  it  had  long  since  been 
abandoned,  even  by  the  classes  which  had  first  dis 
covered  and  traveled  it.  These  vagabonds  had  for 
merly  kept  it  in  such  a  state  of  repair  that  it  was 
fairly  passable,  but  no  work  had  been  done  on  it  for 
nearly  one  hundred  years.  Indeed,  in  some  places, 
the  way  had  been  designedly  obliterated  by  the 
Spanish  Government  about  a  century  since,  after 
one  of  the  most  daring  exploits  that  ever  took  place 
in  the  new  world. 

Ninety  years  before  this  incursion  by  the  buc 
caneers,  a  bold  English  naval  officer,  Sir  Amyas 
Preston,  after  seizing  La  Guayra,  had  captured  Car 
acas  by  means  of  this  path.  The  Spaniards,  ap- 

328 


BUCCANEER 


prised  of  his  descent  upon  their  coasts,  had  fortified 
the  mountain  pass  but  had  neglected  this  mountain 
trail,  as  a  thing  impracticable  for  any  force.  Pres 
ton,  however,  adroitly  concealing  his  movements, 
had  actually  forced  his  men  to  ascend  the  trail.  The 
ancient  chroniclers  tell  of  the  terrific  nature  of  the 
climb,  how  the  exhausted  and  frightened  English 
sailors  dropped  upon  the  rocks,  appalled  by  their 
dangers  and  worn  out  by  their  hardships,  how  Pres 
ton  and  his  officers  forced  them  up  at  the  point  of 
the  sword  until  finally  they  gained  the  crest  and 
descended  into  the  valley.  They  found  the  town  un 
protected,  for  all  its  defenders  were  in  the  pass, 
seized  it,  held  it  for  ransom,  then,  sallying  forth, 
took  the  surprised  Spanish  troops  in  the  pass  in  the 
rear  and  swept  them  away. 

After  this  exploit  some  desultory  efforts  had  been 
made  by  the  Spaniards  to  render  the  trail  still  more 
impracticable  with  such  success  as  has  been  stated, 
and  it  gradually  fell  into  entire  disuse.  By  nearly 
all  the  inhabitants  its  very  existence  had  been  for 
gotten. 

It  was  this  trail  that  Alvarado  determined  to 
ascend.  The  difficulties  in  his  way,  even  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances,  might  well  have  ap 
palled  the  stoutest-hearted  mountaineer.  In  the 
darkness  they  would  be  increased  a  thousand-fold. 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


He  had  not  done  a  great  deal  of  mountain  climbing, 
although  every  one  who  lived  in  Venezuela  was 
more  or  less  familiar  with  the  practice;  but  he  was 
possessed  of  a  cool  head,  an  unshakable  nerve,  a 
resolute  determination,  and  unbounded  strength, 
which  now  stood  him  in  good  stead.  And  he  had 
back  of  him,  to  urge  him,  every  incentive  in  the 
shape  of  love  and  duty  that  could  move  humanity  to 
godlike  deed. 

Along  the  base  of  the  mountain  the  trail  was  not 
difficult  although  it  was  pitch-dark  under  the  trees 
which,  except  where  the  mighty  cliffs  rose  sheer  in 
the  air  like  huge  buttresses  of  the  range,  covered 
the  mountains  for  the  whole  expanse  of  their  great 
altitude,  therefore  he  made  his  way  upward  without 
trouble  or  accident  at  first.  The  moon's  rays  could 
not  pierce  the  density  of  the  tropic  foliage,  of  course, 
but  Alvarado  was  very  familiar  with  this  easier  por 
tion  of  the  way,  for  he  had  often  traversed  it  on 
hunting  expeditions,  and  he  made  good  progress  for 
several  hours  in  spite  of  the  obscurity. 

It  had  been  long  past  midnight  when  he  started, 
and  it  was  not  until  daybreak  that  he  passed  above 
the  familiar  and  not  untrodden  way  and  entered 
upon  the  most  perilous  part  of  his  journey.  The 
gray  dawn  revealed  to  him  the  appalling  dangers  he 
must  face. 

330 


BUCCANEER 


Sometimes  clinging  with  iron  grasp  to  pinnacles 
of  rock,  he  swung  himself  along  the  side  of  some 
terrific  precipice,  where  the  slightest  misstep  meant 
a  rush  into  eternity  upon  the  rocks  a  thousand  feet 
below.  Sometimes  he  had  to  spring  far  across  great 
gorges  in  the  mountains  that  had  once  been  bridged 
by  mighty  trunks  of  trees,  long  since  moldered  away. 
Sometimes  there  was  nothing  for  him  to  do  but  to 
scramble  down  the  steep  sides  of  some  dark  canon 
and  force  himself  through  cold  torrential  mountain 
streams  that  almost  swept  him  from  his  feet.  Again 
his  path  lay  over  cliffs  green  with  moss  and  wet  with 
spray,  which  afforded  most  precarious  support  to  his 
grasping  hands  or  slipping  feet.  Sometimes  he  had 
to  force  a  way  through  thick  tropic  undergrowth 
that  tore  his  clothing  into  rags. 

Had  he  undertaken  the  ascent  in  a  mere  spirit  of 
adventure  he  would  have  turned  back  long  since 
from  the  dangers  he  met  and  surmounted  with  such 
hardship  and  difficulty;  but  he  was  sustained  by  the 
thought  of  the  dreadful  peril  of  the  woman  he  loved, 
the  remembrance  of  the  sufferings  of  the  hapless 
townspeople,  and  a  consuming  desire  for  revenge 
upon  the  man  who  had  wrought  this  ruin  on  the 
shore.  With  the  pale,  beautiful  face  of  Mercedes 
to  lead  him,  and  by  contrast  the  hateful,  cruel  coun 
tenance  of  Morgan  to  force  him,  ever  before  his 

331 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


vision,  the  man  plunged  upward  with  unnatural 
strength,  braving  dangers,  taking  chances,  doing  the 
impossible — and  Providence  watched  over  him. 

It  was  perhaps  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  when 
he  reached  the  summit— breathless,  exhausted,  un- 
helmed,  weaponless,  coatless,  in  rags;  torn,  bruised, 
bleeding,  but  unharmed — and  looked  down  on  the 
whitei  city  of  Caracas  set  in  its  verdant  environment 
like  a  handful  of  pearls  in  a  goblet  of  emerald.  He 
had  wondered  if  he  would  be  in  time  to  intercept  the 
Viceroy,  and  his  strained  heart  leaped  in  his  tired 
breast  when  he  saw,  a  few  miles  beyond  the  town 
on  the  road  winding  toward  the  Orinoco  country,  a 
body  of  men.  The  sunlight  blazing  from  polished 
helms  ior  pointed  lance  tips  proclaimed  that  they 
were  soldiers.  He  would  be  in  time,  thank  God! 

>  With  renewed  vigor,  he  scrambled  down  the  side 
of  the  mountain — and  this  descent  fortunately  hap 
pened  to  be  gentle  and  easy — and  running  with 
headlong  speed,  he  soon  drew  near  the  gate  of  the 
palace.  He  dashed  into  it  with  reckless  haste,  indif 
ferent  to  .the  protests  of  the  guard,  who  did  not  at 
first  recognize  in  the  tattered,  bloody,  wounded, 
soiled  specimen  of  humanity  his  gay  and  gallant 
commander.  He  made  himself  known  at  once,  and 
was  confirmed  in  his  surmise  that  the  Viceroy  had 


he  reached  the  summit — breathless,  exhausted, 
unhelmed,  \\eaponless,  coatless,  in  rags;  torn,  bruised, 
bleeding,  but  unharmed. 


BUCCANEER 


set  forth  with  his  troops  early  in  the  morning  and 
was  still  in  reaching  distance  on  the  road. 

Directing  the  best  horse  in  the  stables  to  be 
brought  to  him,  after  snatching  a  hasty  meal  while 
it  was  being  saddled,  and  not  even  taking  time  to 
re-clothe  himself,  he  mounted  and  galloped  after. 
An  hour  later  he  burst  through  the  ranks  of  the  little 
army  and  reined  in  his  horse  before  the  astonished 
Viceroy,  who  did  not  recognize  in  this  sorry  cavalier 
his  favorite  officer,  and  stern  words  of  reproof  for 
the  unceremonious  interruption  of  the  horseman 
broke  from  his  lips  until  they  were  checked  by  the 
first  word  from  the  young  captain. 

"  The  buccaneers  have  taken  La  Guayra  and 
sacked  it !  "  gasped  Alvarado  hoarsely. 

"  Alvarado !  "  cried  the  Viceroy,  recognizing  him 
as  he  spoke.  "  Are  you  mad  ?  " 

"  Would  God  I  were,  my  lord." 

"  The  buccaneers  ?  " 

"  Morgan — all  Spain  hates  him  with  reason — led 
them !  " 

"  Morgan !  That  accursed  scourge  again  in  arms '? 
Impossible  !  I  don't  understand !  " 

"  The  very  same  !  7Tis  true  !  'tis  true  !  Oh,  your 
Excellency " 

"  And  my  daughter— " 


335 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


"  A  prisoner !  For  God's  love  turn  back  the 
men!" 

"  Instantly !  "   cried  the  Viceroy. 

He  was  burning  with  anxiety  to  hear  more,  but 
he  was  too  good  a  soldier  to  hesitate  as  to  the  first 
thing  to  be  done.  Raising  himself  in  his  stirrups  he 
gave  a  few  sharp  commands  and  the  little  army, 
which  had  halted  when  he  had,  faced  about  and 
began  the  return  march  to  Caracas  at  full  speed. 
As  soon  as  their  manoeuvres  had  been  completed  and 
they  moved  off,  the  Viceroy,  who  rode  at  the  head 
with  Alvarado  and  the  gentlemen  of  his  suite,  broke 
into  anxious  questioning. 

"  Now,  Captain,  but  that  thou  art  a  skilled  soldier 
I  could  not  believe  thy  tale." 

"  My  lord,  I  swear  it. is  true !  " 

"  And  you  left  Donna  Mercedes  a  prisoner  ?  "  in 
terrupted  de  Tobar,  who  had  been  consumed  with 
anxiety  even  greater  than  that  of  the  Viceroy. 

"  Alas,  'tis  so." 

"  How  can  that  be  when  you  are  free,  senor  ?  " 

"  Let  me  question  my  own  officer,  de  Tobar," 
resumed  the  Viceroy  peremptorily,  "  and  silence,  all, 
else  we  learn  nothing.  Now,  Alvarado.  What  is 
this  strange  tale  of  thine  ?  " 

"  My  lord,  after  we  left  you  yesterday  morning  we 
made  the  passage  safely  down  the  mountain.  Toward 

330 


BUCCANEER 


evening  as  we  approached  La  Guayra,  just  before  the 
point  where  the  road  turns  into  the  strand,  we  were 
set  upon  by  men  in  ambush.  The  soldiers  and  attend 
ants  were  without  exception  slain.  Although  I 
fought  and  beat  down  one  or  two  of  our  assailants, 
they  struck  me  to  the  earth  and  took  me  alive.  The 
two  ladies  and  I  alone  escaped.  No  indignity  was 
offered  them.  I  was  bound  and  we  were  led  along 
the  road  to  a  camp.  There  appeared  to  be  some 
three  hundred  and  fifty  men  under  the  leadership 
of  a  man  who  claimed  to  be  Sir  Henry  Morgan, 
sometime  pirate  and  robber,  later  Vice-Governor  of 
Jamaica,  now,  as  I  gathered,  in  rebellion  against 
his  king  and  in  arms  against  us.  They  captured 
the  plate  galleon  with  lading  from  Porto  Bello  and 
Peru,  and  were  wrecked  on  this  coast  to  the  west 
ward  of  La  Guayra.  They  had  determined  upon  the 
capture  of  that  town,  whence  they  expected  to  move 
on  Caracas." 

"  And  Mercedes  ?  "  again  interrupted  the  impetu 
ous  and  impassioned  de  Tobar. 

"  Let  him  tell  his  tale  !  "  commanded  the  Viceroy, 
sternly.  "  It  behooves  us,  gentlemen,  to  think  first 
of  the  cities  of  our  King." 

"  They  had  captured  a  band  of  holy  nuns  and 
priests.  These  were  forced,  especially  the  women, 
by  threats  you  can  imagine,  to  plant  scaling  ladders 

887 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


against  the  walls,  and,  although  the  troops  made  a 
brave  defense,  the  buccaneers  mastered  them.  They 
carried  the  place  by  storm  and  sacked  it.  When  I 
left  it  was  burning  in  several  places  and  turned  into 
a  hell." 

"  My  God !  "  ejaculated  the  old  man,  amid  the 
cries  and  oaths  of  his  fierce,  infuriated  men.  "  And 
npw  tell  me  about  Mercedes. " 

"  Morgan — who  met  her,  you  remember,  when  we 
stopped  at  Jamaica  on  our  return  from  Madrid  ?  " 

"Yes,  yes!" 

"  He  is  in  love  with  her.  He  wanted  to  make  her 
his  wife.  Therefore  he  kept  her  from  the  soldiery." 

In  his  eagerness  the  Viceroy  reined  in  his  horse, 
and  the  officers  and  men,  even  the  soldiers,  stopped 
also  and  crowded  around  the  narrator. 

11  Did  he — did  he—  O  Holy  Mother  have  pity 
upon  me !  "  groaned  the  Viceroy. 

"  He  did  her  no  violence  save  to  kiss  her,  while 
T  was  by.' 

"  And  you  suffered  it!  "  shouted  de  Tobar,  beside 
himself  with  rage. 

''  What  did  she  then  ?  "  asked  the  old  man,  waving 
his  hand  for  silence. 

"  She  struck  him  in  the  face  again  and  again  with 
her  riding- whip.  I  was  bound,  senors.  I  broke  my 
bonds,  struck  down  one  of  the  guards,  wrested  a 

338 


BUCCANEER 


sword  from  another,  and  sprang  to  defend  her.  But 
they  overpowered  me.  Indeed,  they  seized  the  lady 
and  swore  to  kill  her  unless  I  dropped  my  weapon," 

"  Death/'  cried  de  Lara,  "  would  have  been  per 
haps  a  fitting  end  for  her.  What  more  ?  " 

"  We  were  conveyed  into  the  city  after  the  sack. 
He  insulted  her  again  with  his  compliments  and 
propositions.  He  sent  a  slave  to  fetch  her,  but, 
bound  as  I  was,  I  sprang  upon  him  and  beat  him 
down." 

"And  then?" 

"  Then  one  of  his  men,  an  ancient,  one-eyed 
sailor,  interfered  and  bade  him  look  to  the  town,  else 
it  would  be  burned  over  his  head,  and  urged  him  to 
secure  the  pass.  In  this  exigency  the  pirate  desisted 
from  his  plan  against  the  lady.  He  sent  Donna 
Mercedes  to  a  dungeon,  me  to  another." 

"  How  came  you  here,  sir,  and  alone  ?  "  asked  de 
Tobar,  again  interrupting,  and  this  time  the  Viceroy, 
pitying  the  agony  of  the  lover,  permitted  the  ques 
tion.  "  Did  you,  a  Spanish  officer,  leave  the  lady 
defenseless  amid  those  human  tigers  ?  " 

"  There  was  nothing  else  to  do,  Don  Felipe.  The 
sailor  who  interfered,  he  set  me  free.  I  did  refuse 
to  leave  without  the  serlorita.  He  told  me  I  must 
go  without  her  or  not  at  all.  He  promised  to  pro 
tect  her  honor  or  to  kill  her — at  least  to  furnish 

339 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


her  with  a  weapon.  To  go,  to  reach  you,  your  Ex 
cellency,  was  the  only  chance  for  her.  Going,  I 
might  save  her;  staying,  I  could  only  die." 

"  You  did  rightly.  I  commend  you,"  answered 
the  veteran.  "  Go  on." 

"  My  lord,  I  thank  you.  The  way  over  the  road 
was  barred  by  the  party  that  had  seized  the  pass." 

"  And  how  came  you  ?  " 

"  Straight  over  the  mountain,  sir." 

"  What !     The  Indian  trail  ?    The  English  way  ?  " 

"  The  same." 

"What  next?" 

"  At  ten  to-night,  the  sailor  who  released  me  will 
open  the  city  gate,  the  west  gate,  beneath  the 
shadow  of  the  cliffs — we  must  be  there !  " 

"  But  how  ?  Can  we  take  the  pass  ?  It  is  strongly 
held,  you  say." 

"  My  lord,  give  me  fifty  brave  men  who  will 
volunteer  to  follow  me.  I  will  lead  them  back  over 
the  trail  and  we  will  get  to  the  rear  of  the  men  hold 
ing  the  pass.  Do  you  make  a  feint  at  engaging  them 
in  force  in  front  and  when  their  attention  is  dis 
tracted  elsewhere  we  will  fall  on  and  drive  them  into 
your  arms.  By  this  means  we  open  the  way.  Then 
we  will  post  down  the  mountains  with  speed  and  may 
arrive  in  time.  Nay,  we  must  arrive  in  time !  Hor- 
nigold,  the  sailor,  would  guarantee  nothing  beyond 

340 


BUCCANEER 


to-night.  The  buccaneers  are  drunk  with  liquor; 
tired  out  with  slaughter.  They  will  suspect  noth 
ing.  We  can  master  the  whole  three  hundred  and 
fifty  of  them  with  five  score  men." 

"  Alvarado,"  cried  the  Viceroy,  "  thou  hast  done 
well.  I  thank  thee.  Let  us  but  rescue  my  daughter 
and  defeat  these  buccaneers  and  thou  mayest  ask 
anything  at  my  hands — saving  one  thing.  Gentle 
men  and  soldiers,  you  have  heard  the  plan  of  the 
young  captain.  Who  will  volunteer  to  go  over  the 
mountains  with  him  ?  " 

Brandishing  their  swords  and  shouting  with  loud 
acclaim  the  great  body  of  troopers  pressed  forward 
to  the  service.  Alvarado,  who  knew  them  all, 
rapidly  selected  the  requisite  number,  and  they  fell 
in  advance  of  the  others.  Over  them  the  young  cap 
tain  placed  his  friend  de  Tobar  as  his  second  in  com 
mand. 

"  'Tis  bravely  done  !  "  cried  the  Viceroy.  "  Now 
prick  forward  to  the  city,  all.  We'll  refresh  our 
selves  in  view  of  the  arduous  work  before  us  and 
then  make  our  further  dispositions." 

The  streets  of  Caracas  were  soon  full  of  armed 
men  preparing  for  their  venture.  As  soon  as  the 
plight  of  La  Guayra  and  the  Viceroy's  daughter 
became  known  there  was  scarcely  a  civilian,  even, 
who  did  not  offer  himself  for  the  rescue.  The  Vice- 

341 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


roy?  however,  would  take  only  mounted  men,  and  of 
these  only  tried  soldiers.  Alvarado,  whom  excite 
ment  and  emotion  kept  from  realizing  his  fatigue, 
was  provided  with  fresh  apparel,  after  which  he 
requested  a  private  audience  for  a  moment  or  two 
with  the  Viceroy,  and  together  they  repaired  to  the 
little  cabinet  which  had  been  the  scene  of  the  hap 
penings  the  night  before. 

'  Your  Excellency,*7  began  the  young  man,  slowly, 
painfully,  "I  could  not  wait  even  the  hoped-for 
happy  issue  of  our  plans  to  place  my  sword  and  my 
life  in  your  hands." 

:i  What  have  you  done  ? "  asked  the  old  man,  in 
stantly  perceiving  the  seriousness   of  the  situation 
from  the  anguish  in  his  officer's  look  and  voice. 
"  I  have  broken  my  word — forfeited  my  life." 
"  Proceed." 

"  I  love  the  Donna  Mercedes " 

'  You  promised  to  say  nothing — to  do  nothing." 
'  That  promise  I  did  not  keep." 
"  Explain." 

'There  is  nothing  to  explain.     I  was  weak— it 
was  beyond  my  strength.     I  offer  no  excuse." 
'  You  urge  nothing  in  extenuation  ?  " 
"  Nothing." 
"  'Twas  deliberately  done  ?  " 

"Nay,  not  that;  but  I " 

342 


BUCCANEER 


"S'death!     What   did  you?" 

"  I  told  her  that  I  loved  her,  again 

"  Shame  !     Shame  !  " 

"  I  took  her  into  my  arms  once  more — 

"  Thou  double  traitor  !     And  she " 

"  My  lord,  condemn  her  not.  She  is  young — a 
woman." 

"  I  do  not  consider  Captain  Alvarado,  a  dis 
honored  soldier,  my  proper  mentor.  I  shall  know 
how  to  treat  my  daughter.  What  more  ?  " 

"  Nothing  more.  We  abandoned  ourselves  to  our 
dream,  and  at  the  first  possible  moment  I  am  come 
to  tell  you  all — to  submit — 

"  Hast  no  plea  to  urge  ?  "  persisted  the  old  man. 

"  None." 

"  But  your  reason  ?  By  God's  death,  why  do  you 
tell  me  these  things?  If  thou  art  base  enough  to 
fall,  why  not  base  enough  to  conceal  ?  " 

"  I  could  not  do  so,  your  Excellency.  I  am  not 
master  of  myself  when  she  is  by — 'tis  only  when 
away  from  her  I  see  things  in  their  proper  light. 
She  blinds  me.  No,  sir,"  cried  the  unhappy  Al- 
varado,  seeing  a  look  of  contempt  on  the  grim  face 
of  the  old  general,  "  I  do  not  urge  this  in  defense, 
but  you  wanted  explanation." 

"  Nothing  can  explain  the  falsehood  of  a  gentle- 


343 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


man,  the  betrayal  of  a  friend,  the  treachery  of  a 
soldier." 

"  Nothing — hence  I  am  here." 

"  Perhaps  I  have  estimated  you  too  highly,"  went 
on  the  old  man  musingly.  "  I  had  hoped  you  were 
gentle — but  base  blood  must  run  in  your  veins." 

"  It  may  be/'  answered  the  young  man  brokenly, 
and  then  he  added,  as  one  detail  not  yet  told,  "  I 
have  found  my  mother,  sir." 

"  Thy  mother  ?  What  is  her  condition  ?  "  cried 
the  Viceroy,  in  curious  and  interested  surprise  that 
made  him  forget  his  wrath  and  contempt  for  the 
moment. 

"  She  was  an  abbess  of  our  Holy  Church.  She 
died  upon  the  sands  of  La  Guayra  by  her  own  hand 
rather  than  surrender  her  honor  or  lend  aid  to  the 
sack  of  the  town." 

"  That  was  noble,"  interrupted  the  old  de  Lara. 
"  I  may  be  mistaken  after  all.  Yet  'twere  well  she 
died,  for  she  will  not  see — 

He  paused  significantly. 

"  My  shame  ?  "  asked  Alvarado. 

i  Thy  death,  sefior,  for  what  you  have  done.  No 
other  punishment  is  meet.  Did  Donna  Mercedes 
send  any  message  to  me  ?  " 

Alvarado  could  not  trust  himself  to  speak.  He 
bowed  deeply. 

344 


BUCCANEER 


"What  was  it?" 

The  young  man  stood  silent  before  him. 

"  Well,  I  will  learn  from  her  own  lips  if  she  be 
alive  when  we  come  to  the  city.  I  doubt  not  it  will 
excuse  thee." 

"  I  seek  not  to  shelter  myself  behind  a  woman." 

"  That's  well,"  said  the  od  man.  "  But  now,  what 
is  to  be  done  with  thee  ?  " 

"  My  lord,  give  me  a  chance,  not  to  live,  but  to 
die  honestly.  Let  me  play  my  part  this  day  as 
becomes  a  man,  and  when  Donna  Mercedes  is 
restored  to  your  arms— 

"  Thou  wilt  plead  for  life  ?  " 

"  Nay,  as  God  hears  me,  I  will  not  live  dishonored. 
Life  is  naught  to  me  without  the  lady.  I  swear  to 
thee-  -" 

"  You  have  given  me  your  word  before,  sir," 
said  the  old  man  sternly. 

"  On  this  cross — it  was  my  mother's,"  he  pulled 
from  his  doublet  the  silver  crucifix  and  held  it  up. 
"  I  will  yield  my  life  into  your  hands  without  ques 
tion  then,  and  acclaim  before  the  world  that  you  are 
justified  in  taking  it.  Believe  me " 

"  Thou  didst  betray  me  once." 

"  But  not  this  time.  Before  God — by  Christ,  His 
Mother,  by  my  own  mother,  dead  upon  the  sands,  by 
all  that  I  have  hoped  for,  by  my  salvation,  I  swear 

345 


SIR    HENRY  MORGAN 


if  I  survive  the  day  I  will  go  gladly  to  my  death  at 
your  command !  " 

"I  will  trust  you  once  more,  thus  far.  Say 
naught  of  this  to  any  one.  Leave  me !  " 

"  Your  Excellency,"  cried  the  young  man,  kneel 
ing  before  him,  "  may  God  reward  you !  " 

He  strove  to  take  the  hand  of  the  old  man,  but 
the  latter  drew  it  away. 

"  Even  the  touch  of  forsworn  lips  is  degradation. 
You  have  your  orders.  Go !  " 

Alvarado  buried  his  face  in  his  hands,  groaned 
bitterly,  and  turned  away  without  another  word. 


346 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   XX 

WHEREIN    MASTER    TEACH,    THE    PIRATE,    DIES  BETTER   THAN 
HE  LIVED 

T  was  nearing  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning 
when,  after  a  hurried  conference  in  the 
patio  with  the  Viceroy  and  the  others, 
Alvarado  and  de  Tobar  inarched  out  with 
their  fifty  men.  They 
had  discarded  all  super 
fluous  clothing ;  they 
were  unarmored  and 
carried  no  weapons  but 
swords  and  pistols.  In 
view  of  the  hard  climb 
before  them  and  the 
haste  that  was  required, 
they  wished  to  be  burd 
ened  as  lightly  as  pos 
sible.  Their  horses  were  brought  along  in  the  train 
of  the  Viceroy's  party  which  moved  out  upon  the 
open  road  to  the  pass  at  the  same  time.  These  last 
went  forward  with  great  ostentation,  the  forlorn 

347 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


hope  secretly,  lest  some  from  the  buccaneers  might 
be  watching. 

The  fifty  volunteers  were  to  ascend  the  mountain 
with  all  speed,  make  their  way  along  the  crest  as  best 
they  could,  until  they  came  within  striking  distance 
of  the  camp  of  the  pirates.  Then  they  were  to  con 
ceal  themselves  in  the  woods  there  and  when  the 
Viceroy  made  a  feigned  attack  with  the  main  body 
of  his  troops  from  the  other  side  of  the  mountain, 
they  were  to  leave  their  hiding-place  and  fall  furi 
ously  upon  the  rear  of  the  party.  Fortunately,  they 
were  not  required  to  ascend  such  a  path  as  that  Al- 
varado  had  traversed  on  the  other  side,  for  there 
were  not  fifty  men  in  all  Venezuela  who  could  have 
performed  that  tremendous  feat  of  mountaineering. 
The  way  to  the  summit  of  the  range  and  thence  to 
the  pass  was  difficult,  but  not  impossible,  and  they 
succeeded  after  an  hour  or  two  of  hard  climbing  in 
reaching  their  appointed  station,  where  they  con 
cealed  themselves  in  the  woods,  unobserved  by 
Teach's  men. 

The  Viceroy  carried  out  his  part  of  the  pro 
gramme  with  the  promptness  of  a  soldier.  Al- 
varado's  men  had  scarcely  settled  themselves  in  the 
thick  undergrowth  beneath  the  trees  whence  they 
could  overlook  the  buccaneers  in  camp  on  the  road 
below  them,  before  a  shot  from  the  pirate  sentry 

348 


BUCCANEER 


who  had  been  posted  toward  Caracas  called  the  fierce 
marauders  to  arms.  They  ran  to  the  rude  barricade 
they  had  erected  covering  the  pass  and  made  prep 
aration  for  battle.  Soon  the  wood  was  ringing  with 
shouts  and  cries  and  the  sound  of  musketry. 

Although  Teach  was  a  natural  soldier  and  L'Ol- 
lonois  an  experienced  and  prudent  commander,  they 
took  no  precaution  whatever  to  cover  their  rear,  for 
such  a  thing  as  an  assault  from  that  direction  was 
not  even  dreamed  of. 

Alvarado  and  de  Tobar,  therefore,  led  their  men 
forward  without  the  slightest  opposition.  Even  the 
noise  they  made  crashing  through  the  undergrowth 
was  lost  in  the  sound  of  the  battle,  and  attracted  no 
attention  from  the  enemy.  It  was  not  until  they 
burst  out  into  the  open  road  and  charged  forward, 
cheering  madly,  that  the  buccaneers  realized  their 
danger.  Some  of  them  faced  about,  only  to  be  met 
by  a  murderous  discharge  from  the  pistols  of  the 
forlorn  hope,  and  the  next  moment  the  Spaniards 
were  upon  them.  The  party  holding  the  pass  were 
the  picked  men,  veterans,  among  the  marauders. 
They  met  the  onset  with  tremendous  courage  and 
crossed  blades  in  the  smoke  like  men,  but  at  the  same 
instant  the  advance  guard  of  the  main  army  sprang 
at  the  barricade  and  assaulted  them  vigorously  from 
the  other  side.  The  odds  were  too  much  for  the 

849 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


buccaneers,  and  after  a  wild  melee  in  which  they  lost 
heavily,  the  survivors  gave  ground. 

The  road  immediately  below  the  pass  opened  on  a 
little  plateau,  back  of  which  rose  a  precipitous  wrall 
of  rock.  Thither  such  of  the  buccaneers  as  were  left 
alive  hastily  retreated.  There  were  perhaps  a  dozen 
men  able  to  use  their  weapons;  among  them  Teach 
was  the  only  officer.  L'Ollonois  had  been  cut  down 
by  de  Tobar  in  the  first  charge.  The  Spaniards 
burst  through  the  pass  and  surrounded  the  buc 
caneers.  The  firearms  on  both  sides  had  all  been 
discharged,  and  in  the  excitement  no  one  thought 
of  reloading;  indeed,  with  the  cumbersome  and  com 
plicated  weapons  then  in  vogue  there  was  no  time, 
and  the  Spaniards,  who  had  paid  dearly  for  their 
victory,  so  desperate  had  been  the  defence  of  the 
pirates,  were  fain  to  finish  this  detachment  in  short 
order. 

<  Yield !  "  cried  Alvarado,  as  usual  in  the  front 
ranks  of  his  own  men.  u  You  are  hopelessly  over 
matched,"  pointing  with  dripping  blade  to  his  own 
and  the  Viceroy's  soldiers  as  he  spoke. 

"  Shall  we  get  good  quarter?  "  called  out  Teach. 

A  splendid  specimen  he  looked  of  an  Englishman 

at  bay,  in  spite  of  his  wicked  calling,  standing  with 

liis   back   against   the   towering   rock,   his   bare   and 

bloody  sword  extended  menacingly  before  him,  the 

350 


BUCCANEER 


bright  sunlight  blazing  upon  his  sunny  hair,  his  blue 
eyes  sparkling  with  battle-lust  and  determined  cour 
age.  Quite  the  best  of  the  pirates,  he ! 

•"  You  shall  be  hung  like  the  dogs  you  are," 
answered  Alvarado  sternly. 

"•  We'd  rather  die  sword  in  hand,  eh,  lads  ?  " 

"  Ay,  ay." 

"  Come  on,  then,  senors,"  laughed  the  English 
man  gallantly,  saluting  with  his  sword,  "  and  see 
how  bravely  we  English  can  die  when  the  game  is 
played  and  we  have  lost." 

Though  his  cause  was  bad  and  his  life  also,  his 
courage  was  magnificent.  Under  other  circum 
stances  it  would  have  evoked  the  appreciation  of  Al 
varado  and  some  consideration  at  his  hands.  Pos 
sibly  he  might  even  have  granted  life  to  the  man, 
but  memory  of  the  sights  of  the  night  before  in  that 
devastated  town  six  thousand  feet  below  their  feet, 
and  the  deadly  peril  of  his  sweetheart  banished  pity 
from  his  soul.  This  man  had  been  the  right  hand  of 
Morgan;  he  was,  after  the  captain,  the  ablest  man 
among  the  buccaneers.  He  must  die,  and  it  would 
be  a  mercy  to  kill  him  out  of  hand,  anyway. 

"  Forward,  gentlemen !  "  he  cried,  and  instantly 
the  whole  mass  closed  in  on  the  pirates.  Such  a  fight 
as  Teach  and  his  men  made  was  marvellous.  For 
each  life  the  Spaniards  took  the  pirates  exacted  a 

351 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


high  price,  but  the  odds  were  too  great  for  any  human 
valor,  however  splendid,  to  withstand,  and  in  a  brief 
space  the  last  of  the  buccaneers  lay  dying  on  the  hill. 
Teach  was  game  to  the  last.  Pierced  with  a  dozen 
wounds,  his  sword  broken  to  pieces,  he  lifted  him 
self  on  his  elbow,  and  with  a  smile  of  defiance  gasped 
out  the  brave  chorus  of  the  song  of  the  poet  of 
London  town: 

"Though  life  now  is  pleasant  and  sweet  to  the  sense, 
We'll  be  damnably  mouldy  a  hundred  years  hence." 

"  Tell  Morgan,"  he  faltered,  "  we  did  not  betray— 
faithful  to  the  end " 

And  so  he  died  as  he  had  lived. 

"  A  brave  man !  "  exclaimed  de  Tobar  with  some 
feeling  in  his  voice. 

"  But  a  black-hearted  scoundrel,  nevertheless," 
answered  Alvarado  sternly.  "  Had  you  seen  him 
last  night " 

"  Ye  have  been  successful,  I  see,  gentlemen/'  cried 
the  Viceroy,  riding  up  with  the  main  body.  "  Where 
is  Alvarado  ? " 

"  I  am  here,  your  Excellency." 

"  You  are  yet  alive,  sefior  ?  " 

"  My  work  is  not  yet  complete,"  answered  the 
soldi  •,  "  and  I  can  not  die  until — I — Donna  Mer — 

"  I;*  ing  up  the  led  horses,"  interrupted  the  Vice- 
352 


BUCCANEER 


roy  curtly.  "  Mount  these  gentlemen.  Let  the  chir- 
urgeons  look  to  the  Spanish  wounded." 

"  And  if  there  be  any  buccaneers  yet  alive  ? " 
asked  one  of  the  officers. 

"  Toss  them  over  the  cliff/'  answered  the  Viceroy; 
"  throw  the  bodies  of  all  the  carrion  over,  living  or 
dead.  They  pollute  the  air.  Form  up,  gentlemen ! 
We  have  fully  twenty-five  miles  between  us  and  the 
town  which  we  must  reach  at  ten  of  the  clock.  'Twill 
be  hard  riding.  Alvarado,  assemble  your  men  and 
you  and  de  Tobar  lead  the  way,  I  will  stay  farther 
back  and  keep  the  main  body  from  scattering.  We 
have  struck  a  brave  blow  first,  and  may  God  and  St. 
Jago  defend  us  further.  Forward !  " 


353 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XXI 

THE   RECITAL  OF   HOW  CAPTAIN  ALVARADO  AND  DON  FELIPE 
DE  TOBAR  CAME  TO  THE  RESCUE  IN  THE  NICK  OF  TIME 


LD  Hornigold  had  kept  his  promise,  and 
Alvarado  had  kept  his  as  well.  It  was 
a  few  minutes  before  ten  when  the 
first  Spanish  horsemen  sprang  from 
their  jaded  steeds  at  the 
end  of  the  road.  In  that 
wild  race  down  the 
mountains,  Alvarado  had 
ridden  first  with  de 
Tobar  ever  by  his  side. 
None  had  been  able  to 
pass  these  two.  The 
Viceroy  had  fallen  some 
distance  behind.  For 
one  reason,  he  was  an 
old  man,  and  the  pace  set  by  the  lovers  was  killing. 
For  another  and  a  better,  as  he  had  said,  he  thought 
it  desirable  to  stay  somewhat  in  the  rear  to  keep  the 
men  closed  up ;  but  the  pace  even  of  the  last  'and 

354 


BUCCANEER 


slowest  had  been  a  tremendous  one.  Sparing  neither 
themselves  nor  their  horses,  they  had  raced  down 
the  perilous  way.  Some  of  them  had  gone  over  the 
cliffs  to  instant  destruction;  others  had  been  heavily 
thrown  by  the  stumbling  horses.  Some  of  the  horses 
had  given  out  under  the  awful  gallop  and  had  fallen 
exhausted,  but  when  the  riders  were  unhurt  they 
had  joined  the  foot  soldiers  marching  after  the 
troopers  as  fast  they  could. 

Alvarado's  soldierly  instincts  had  caused  him  to 
halt  where  the  road  opened  upon  the  sand,  for  he 
and  de  Tobar  and  the  two  or  three  who  kept  near 
them  could  do  nothing  alone.  They  were  forced  to 
wait  until  a  sufficient  force  had  assembled  to  begin 
the  attack.  He  would  have  been  there  before  the 
appointed  time  had  it  not  been  for  this  imperative 
delay,  which  demonstrated  his  capacity  more  than 
almost  anything  else  could  have  done,  for  he  was 
burning  to  rush  to  the  rescue  of  Mercedes. 

Indeed,  he  had  been  compelled  to  restrain  by  force 
the  impetuous  and  undisciplined  de  Tobar,  who 
thought  of  nothing  but  the  peril  of  the  woman  he 
adored.  There  had  been  a  fierce  altercation  be 
tween  the  two  young  men  before  the  latter  could 
be  persuaded  that  Alvarado  was  right.  Each 
moment,  however,  added  to  the  number  of  the  party. 
There  was  no  great  distance  between  the  first  and 

355 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


last,  and  after  a  wait  of  perhaps  ten  or  fifteen  min 
utes,  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  horsemen  were 
assembled.  The  Viceroy  had  not  come  up  with  the 
rest,  but  they  were  sure  he  would  be  along  presently, 
and  Alvarado  would  wait  no  longer. 

Bidding  the  men  dismount  lest  they  should  be 
observed  on  horseback,  and  stationing  one  to  acquaint 
the  Viceroy  with  his  plans,  he  divided  his  troop  into 
three  companies,  he  and  de  Tobar  taking  command 
of  one  and  choosing  the  nearest  fort  as  their  objec 
tive  point.  Captain  Agramonte,  a  veteran  soldier, 
was  directed  to  scour  the  town,  and  Lieutenant 
Nunez,  another  trusted  officer,  was  ordered  to  master 
the  eastern  fort  on  the  other  side.  They  were 
directed  to  kill  every  man  whom  they  saw  at  large  in 
the  city,  shooting  or  cutting  down  every  man  abroad 
without  hesitation,  for  Alvarado  rightly  divined  that 
all  the  inhabitants  would  be  penned  up  in  some 
prison  or  other  and  that  none  would  be  on  the  streets 
except  the  buccaneers.  There  were  still  enough 
pirates  in  the  city  greatly  to  outnumber  his  force, 
but  many  of  them  were  drunk  and  all  of  them,  the 
Spaniard  counted,  would  be  unprepared.  The  ad 
vantage  of  the  surprise  would  be  with  his  own  men. 
If  he  could  hold  them  in  play  for  twenty  minutes 
the  Viceroy  with  another  detachment  would  arrive, 
and  thereafter  the  end  would  be  certain.  They  could 

356 


BUCCANEER 


take  prisoners  then  and  reserve  them  for  torture 
and  death — some  meet  punishment  for  their  crimes. 

Those  necessary  preparations  were  made  with  the 
greatest  speed,  the  men  were  told  off  in  their  respec 
tive  companies,  and  then,  keeping  close  under  the 
shadow  of  the  cliff  for  fear  of  a  possible  watcher, 
they  started  forward. 

Since  ten  old  Ben  Hornigold  had  been  hidden  in 
an  arched  recess  of  the  gateway  waiting  their  arrival. 
He  had  thought,  as  the  slow  minutes  dragged  by, 
that  Alvarado  had  failed,  and  he  began  to  contrive 
some  way  by  which  he  could  account  for  his  escape 
to  Morgan  in  the  morning,  when  the  captain  would 
ask  to  have  him  produced,  but  the  arrival  of  the 
Spaniards  relieved  his  growing  anxiety. 

"  Donna  Mercedes  ?  "  asked  Alvarado  of  the  old 
boatswain,  as  he  entered  the  gate. 

"  Safe  when  I  left  her  in  the  guardroom  with 
Morgan — and  armed.  If  you  would  see  her 
alive » 

"  This  way—  '  cried  Alvarado,  dashing  madly 
along  the  street  toward  the  fort. 

Every  man  had  his  weapons  in  hand,  and  the 
little  party  had  scarcely  gone  ten  steps  before  they 
met  a  buccaneer.  He  had  been  asleep  when  he 
should  have  watched,  and  had  just  been  awakened 
by  the  sound  of  their  approach.  He  opened  his 

357 


SIR    HENRY  MORGAN 


mouth  to  cry  out,  but  Alvarado  thrust  his  sword 
through  him  before  he  could  utter  a  sound.  The 
moonlight  made  the  street  as  light  as  day,  and  before 
they  had  gone  twenty  steps  farther,  turning  the 
corner,  they  came  upon  a  little  party  of  the  pirates. 
An  immediate  alarm  was  given  by  them.  The 
Spaniards  brushed  them  aside  by  the  impetuosity  of 
their  onset,  but  on  this  occasion  pistols  were  brought 
in  play.  Screams  and  cries  followed  the  shots,  and 
calls  to  arms  rang  through  the  town. 

But  by  this  time  the  other  companies  were  in  the 
city,  and  they  were  making  terrible  havoc  as  they 
ran  to  their  appointed  stations.  The  buccaneers 
came  pouring  from  the  houses,  most  of  them  arms  in 
hand.  It  could  not  be  denied  that  they  were  ready 
men.  But  the  three  attacks  simultaneously  delivered 
bewildered  them.  The  streets  in  all  directions 
seemed  full  of  foes.  The  advantage  of  the  surprise 
was  with  the  Spanish.  The  pirates  were  without 
leadership  for  the  moment  and  ran  aimlessly  to  and 
fro,  not  knowing  where  to  rally ;  yet  little  bands  did 
gather  together  instinctively,  and  these  began  to 
make  some  headway  against  the  Spanish  soldiery. 
Even  the  cowards  fought  desperately,  for  around 
every  neck  was  already  the  feel  of  a  halter. 

Alvarado   and  de   Tobar   soon   found  themselves 
detached  from  their  company.     Indeed,  as  the  time 

358 


BUCCANEER 


progressed  and  the  buccaneers  began  to  perceive  the 
situation  they  put  up  a  more  and  more  stubborn  and 
successful  opposition.  They  rallied  in  larger  parties 
and  offered  a  stout  resistance  to  the  Spanish  charges. 
Disregarding  their  isolation,  the  two  young  officers 
fan  to  the  fort.  Fortunately  the  way  in  that  direc 
tion  was  not  barred.  The  solitary  sentry  at  the  gate 
way  attempted  to  check  them,  but  they  cut  him 
down  in  an  instant.  As  they  mounted  the  stair  they 
heard,  above  the  shrieks  and  cries  and  shots  of  the 
tumult  that  came  blowing  in  the  casement  with  the 
night  wind,  the  sound  of  a  woman's  screams. 

"  Mercedes !  "  cried  de  Tobar.     "  It  is  she !  " 

They  bounded  up  the  stairs,  overthrowing  one  or 
two  startled  men  who  would  have  intercepted  them, 
and  darted  to  the  guardroom.  They  tore  the  heavy 
hangings  aside  and  found  themselves  in  a  blaze  of 
light  in  the  long  apartment.  Two  men  confronted 
them.  Back  of  the  two,  against  the  wall,  in  a  piteous 
state  of  disorder  and  terror,  stood  the  woman  they 
both  loved.  In  front  of  her,  knife  in  hand,  towered 
the  half-breed. 

"  Treason,  treason !  "  shouted  Morgan  furiously. 
"  We  are  betrayed !  At  them,  de  Lussan !  " 

As  he  spoke  the  four  men  crossed  swords.  De 
Tobar  was  not  the  master  of  the  weapon  that  the 
others  were.  After  a  few  rapid  parries  and  lunges 

359 


SJR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  Frenchman  had  the  measure  of  his  brave  young 
opponent.  Then,  with  a  laugh  of  evil  intent,  by  a 
clever  play  he  beat  down  the  Spaniard's  guard,  shat 
tering  his  weapon,  and  with  a  thrust  as  powerful  as 
it  was  skilful,  he  drove  the  blade  up  to  the  hilt  in 
poor  de  Tobar's  bosom.  The  gallant  but  unfortunate 
gentleman  dropped  his  own  sword  as  he  fell,  and 
clasped  his  hands  by  a  convulsive  effort  around  the 
blade  of  de  Lussan.  Such  was  the  violence  of  his 
grasp  that  he  fairly  hugged  the  sword  to  his  breast, 
and  when  he  fell  backward  upon  the  point  the  blade 
snapped.  He  was  done  for. 

Morgan  and  Alvarado,  on  the  other  hand,  were 
more  equally  matched.  Neither  had  gained  an  ad 
vantage,  although  both  fought  with  energy  and  fury. 
Alvarado  was  silent,  but  Morgan  made  the  air  ring 
with  shouts  and  cries  for  his  men.  As  the  swords 
clashed,  Carib  raised  his  hand  to  fling  his  knife  at 
Alvarado,  but,  just  as  the  weapon  left  his  fingers, 
Mercedes  threw  herself  upon  him.  The  whizzing 
blade  went  wild.  With  a  savage  oath  he  seized  a 
pistol  and  ran  toward  the  Spaniard,  who  was  at  last 
getting  the  better  of  the  Captain.  A  cry  from  Mer 
cedes  warned  Alvarado  of  this  new  danger.  Dis 
engaging  suddenly,  he  found  himself  at  sword's 
point  with  de  Lussan,  who  had  withdrawn  his  broken 
weapon  from  de  Tobar's  body  and  was  menacing  him 

360 


BUCCANEER 


with  it.  With  three  opponents  before  him  he  backed 
up  against  the  wall  and  at  last  gave  tongue. 

"  To  me !  "  he  cried  loudly,  hoping  some  of  his 
men  were  within  call.  "  Alvarado !  " 

As  he  spoke  Morgan  closed  with  him  once  more, 
shouting : 

"  On  him,  de  Lussan !  Let  him  have  it,  Black 
Dog !  We've  disposed  of  one  !  " 

As  the  blades  crossed  again,  the  desperate  Span 
iard,  who  was  a  swordsman  of  swordsmen,  put  forth 
all  his  power.  There  was  a  quick  interchange  of 
thrust  and  parry,  and  the  weapon  went  whirling 
from  the  hand  of  the  chief  buccaneer.  Quick  as 
thought  Alvarado  shortened  his  arm  and  drove  home 
the  stroke.  Morgan's  life  trembled  in  the  balance. 
The  maroon,  however,  who  had  been  seeking  a 
chance  to  fire,  threw  himself  between  the  two  men 
and  received  the  force  of  the  thrust  full  in  the  heart. 
His  pistol  was  discharged  harmlessly.  He  fell  dead 
at  his  master's  feet  without  even  a  groan.  J$o  more 
would  Black  Dog  watch  behind  the  old  man's  chair. 
He  had  been  faithful  to  his  hideous  leader  and  his 
hideous  creed.  Before  Alvarado  could  recover  his 
guard,  de  Lussan  struck  him  with  his  broken  sword. 
The  blow  was  parried  by  arm  and  dagger,  but  the 
force  of  it  sent  the  Spaniard  reeling  against  the 
wall.  At  the  same  instant  Morgan  seized  a  pistol  and 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


snapped  it  full  in  his  face.  The  weapon  missed  fire, 
but  the  buccaneer,  clutching  the  barrel,  beat  him 
down  with  a  fierce  blow. 

"  So  much  for  these  two/'  he  roared.  "  Let's  to 
the  street." 

De  Lussan  seized  Alvarado's  sword,  throwing 
away  his  own.  Morgan  picked  up  his  own  blade 
again,  and  the  two  ran  from  the  room. 

A  stern  fight  was  being  waged  in  the  square, 
whither  all  the  combatants  had  congregated,  the  buc 
caneers  driven  there,  the  Spaniards  following.  The 
disciplined  valor  and  determination  of  the  Spanish, 
however,  were  slowly  causing  the  buccaneers  to  give 
ground.  No  Spanish  soldiers  that  ever  lived  could 
have  defeated  the  old-time  buccaneers,  but  these 
were  different,  and  their  best  men  had  been  killed 
with  Teach  and  L'Ollonois.  The  opportune  arrival 
of  Morgan  and  de  Lussan,  however,  put  heart  in 
their  men.  Under  the  direction  of  these  two  re 
doubtable  champions  they  began  to  make  stouter 
resistance. 

The  battle  might  have  gone  in  their  favor  if,  in 
the  very  nick  of  time,  the  Viceroy  himself  and  the 
remainder  of  the  troops  had  not  come  up.  They  had 
not  thought  it  necessary  to  come  on  foot  since  the 
surprise  had  been  effected,  and  the  Viceroy  rightly 
divined  they  would  have  more  advantage  if  mounted. 


BUCCANEER 


Choosing  the  very  freshest  horses  therefore,  he  had 
put  fifty  of  the  best  soldiers  upon  them  and  had  led 
them  up  on  a  gallop,  bidding  the  others  follow  on 
with  speed.  The  fighting  had  gradually  concen 
trated  before  the  church  and  in  the  eastern  fort, 
where  Braziliano  had  his  headquarters.  The  arrival 
of  the  horsemen  decided  the  day.  Morgan  and  de 
Lussan,  fighting  desperately  in  the  front  ranks  with 
splendid  courage,  were  overridden.  De  Lussan  was 
wounded,  fell,  and  was  trampled  to  death  by  the 
Spanish  horsemen,  and  Morgan  was  taken  prisoner, 
alive  and  unharmed.  When  he  saw  that  all  was  lost, 
he  had  thrown  himself  upon  the  enemy,  seeking  a 
death  in  the  fight,  which,  by  the  Viceroy's  orders, 
was  denied  him.  Many  of  the  other  buccaneers  also 
were  captured  alive ;  indeed,  the  \7iceroy  desired  as 
many  of  them  saved  as  possible.  He  could  punish  a 
living  man  in  a  way  to  make  him  feel  something  of 
the  torture  he  had  inflicted,  and  for  this  reason 
those  who  surrendered  had  been  spared  for  the 
present. 

Indeed,  after  the  capture  of  Morgan  the  remain 
ing  buccaneers  threw  down  their  arms  and  begged 
for  mercy.  They  might  as  well  have  appealed  to  a 
stone  wall  for  that  as  to  their  Spanish  captors.  A 
short  shrift  and  a  heavy  punishment  were  promised 

them  in  the    morning.       Meanwhile,   after  a  brief 

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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


struggle,  the  east  fort  was  taken  by  assault,  and 
Braziliano  was  wounded  and  captured  with  most  of 
his  men.  The  town  was  in  the  possession  of  the 
Spanish  at  last.  It  was  all  over  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour. 

Instantly  the  streets  were  filled  with  a  mob  of 
men,  women,  and  children,  whose  lives  had  been 
spared,  bewildered  by  the  sudden  release  from  their 
imminent  peril  and  giving  praise  to  God  and  the 
Viceroy  and  his  men.  As  soon  as  he  could  make 
himself  heard  in  the  confusion  de  Lara  inquired  for 
Alvarado. 

"  Where  is  he  ?  "  he  cried.     "  And  de  Tobar  ?  " 

'  My  lord/'  answered  one  of  the  party,  "  we  were 
directed  to  take  the  west  fort  and  those  two  cavaliers 
were  in  the  lead,  but  the  pressure  of  the  pirates  was 
so  great  that  we  were  stopped  and  have  not  seen 
them  since.  They  were  ahead  of  us/7 

"  De  Cordova/'  cried  the  old  man  to  one  of  his 
colonels,  "  take  charge  of  the  town.  Keep  the 
women  and  children  and  inhabitants  together  where 
they  are  for  the  present.  Let  your  soldiery  patrol 
the  streets  and  search  every  house  from  top  to  bot 
tom.  Let  no  one  of  these  ruffianly  scoundrels  escape. 
Take  them  alive.  We'll  deal  with  them  in  the 
morning.  Fetch  Morgan  to  the  west  fort  after  us. 
Come,  gentlemen,  we  shall  find  our  comrades  there, 

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BUCCANEER 


and  pray  God  the  ladies  have  not  yet — are  still  un 
harmed  ! " 

A  noble  old  soldier  was  de  Lara.  He  had  not 
sought  his  daughter  until  he  had  performed  his  full 
duty  in  taking  the  town. 

The  anteroom  of  the  fort  they  found  in  a  state  of 
wild  confusion.  The  dead  bodies  of  the  sentry  and 
the  others  the  two  cavaliers  had  cut  down  on  the 
stairs  were  ruthlessly  thrust  aside,  and  the  party  of 
gentlemen  with  the  Viceroy  in  the  lead  poured  into 
the  guardroom.  There,  on  his  back,  was  stretched 
the  hideous  body  of  the  half-breed  where  he  had 
fallen.  There,  farther  away,  the  unfortunate  de 
Tobar  lay,  gasping  for  breath  yet  making  no  outcry. 
He  was  leaning  on  his  arm  and  staring  across  thtf 
room,  with  anguish  in  his  face  not  due  to  the  wound 
he  had  received  but  to  a  sight  which  broke  his  heart. 

"  Alas,  de  Tobar !  "  cried  the  Viceroy.  "  Where 
is  Mercedes  ?  " 

He  followed  the  glance  of  the  dying  man.  There 
at  the  other  side  of  the  room  lay  a  prostrate  body, 
and  over  it  bent  a  moaning,  sobbing  figure.  It  was 
Mercedes. 

"  Mercedes !  "  cried  the  Viceroy  running  toward 
her.  "  Alvarado  !  " 

"  Tell  me,"  he  asked  in  a  heartbreaking  voice. 

"  Art  thou " 

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SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  Saf e  yet  and — well/7  answered  the  girl;  "they 
came  in  the  very  nick  of  time.  Oh,  Alvarado,  Al- 
varado !  "  she  moaned. 

"  Senorita,"  cried  one  of  the  officers,  "  Don  Felipe 
here  is  dying.  He  would  speak  with  you." 

Mercedes  suffered  herself  to  be  led  to  where  de 
Tobar  lay  upon  the  floor.  One  of  his  comrades  had 
taken  his  head  on  his  knee.  The  very  seconds  of  his 
life  were  numbered.  Lovely  in  her  grief  Mercedes 
knelt  at  his  side,  a  great  pity  in  her  heart.  The 
Viceroy  stepped  close  to  him. 

"  I  thank  you,  too,"  she  said.  "  Poor  Don  Felipe, 
he  and  you  saved  me,  but  at  the  expense  of  your 
lives.  Would  God  you  could  have  been  spared!  " 

"  Nay,"  gasped  the  dying  man,  "  thou  lovest  him. 
I — watched  thee.  I  heard  thee  call  upon  his  name. 
Thou  wert  not  for  me,  and  so  I  die  willingly.  He  is 
a  noble  gentleman.  Would  he  might  have  won 
thee !  " 

The  man  trembled  with  the  violent  effort  it  cost 
him  to  speak.  He  gasped  faintly  and  strove  to  smile. 
By  an  impulse  for  which  she  was  ever  after  grateful, 
she  bent  her  head,  slipped  her  arm  around  his  neck, 
lifted  him  up,  and  kissed  him.  In  spite  of  his  death 
agony,  at  that  caress  he  smiled  up  at  her. 

'  Now,"  he  murmured,  "  I  die  happy — content— 

you  kissed — me — Jesu — Mercedes " 

366 


BUCCANEER 


It  was  the  end  of  as  brave  a  lover,  as  true  a  cava 
lier  as  ever  drew  sword  or  pledged  hand  in  a 
woman's  cause. 

"  He  is  dead/'  said  the  officer. 

"  God  rest  his  soul,  a  gallant  gentleman/'  said  the 
Viceroy,  taking  off  his  hat,  and  his  example  was  fol 
lowed  by  every  one  in  the  room. 

"  And  Captain  Alvarado  ?  "  said  Mercedes,  rising 
to  her  feet  and  turning  to  the  other  figure. 

"  Senorita,"  answered  another  of  the  officers,  "  he 
lives." 

"  Oh,  God,  I  thank  Thee !  " 

"  See — he  moves  !  " 

A  little  shudder  crept  through  the  figure  of  the 
prostrate  Captain,  who  had  only  been  knocked  sense 
less  by  the  fierce  blow  and  was  otherwise  unhurt. 

"  His  eyes  are  open !     Water,  quick !  " 

With  skilled  fingers  begot  by  long  practice  the 
cavalier  cut  the  lacings  of  Alvarado's  doublet  and 
gave  him  water,  then  a  little  wine.  As  the  young 
Captain  returned  to  consciousness,  once  more  the 
officers  crowded  around  him,  the  Viceroy  in  the 
centre,  Mercedes  on  her  knees  again. 

•'  Mercedes/'  whispered  the  young  Captain. 
"Alive— unharmed?" 

'  Yes,"  answered  Mercedes  brokenly,  "  thanks  to 
God  and  thee." 

367 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


"  And  de  Tobar,"  generously  asserted  Alvarado. 
"  Where  is  he  ?  " 

"  Dead." 

"  Oh,  brave  de  Tobar !     And  the  city— 

"  Is  ours." 

"  And  Morgan?" 

"  Here  in  my  hands,"  said  the  Viceroy  sternly. 

"  Thank  God,  thank  God !  And  now,  your  Ex 
cellency,  my  promise.  I  thought  as  I  was  stricken 
down  there  would  be  no  need  for  you  to— 

"  Thou  hast  earned  life,  Alvarado,  not  death,  and 
thou  shalt  have  it." 

"  Senors,"  said  Alvarado,  whose  f aintness  was 
passing  from  him,  "  I  broke  my  plighted  word  to  the 
Viceroy  and  Don  Felipe  de  Tobar.  I  love  this  lady 
and  was  false  to  my  charge.  Don  Alvaro  promised 
me  death  for  punishment,  and  I  crave  it.  I  care 
not  for  life  without — 

"  And  did  he  tell  thee  why  he  broke  his  word?  " 
asked  Mercedes,  taking  his  hands  in  her  own  and 
looking  up  at  her  father.  "  It  was  my  fault.  I  made 
him.  In  despair  I  strove  to  throw  myself  over  the 
cliff  on  yonder  mountain  and  he  caught  me  in  his 
arms.  With  me  in  his  arms—  Which  of  you,  my 
lords,"  she  said,  throwing  back  her  head  with  superb 
pride,  "  would  not  have  done  the  same  ?  Don  Felipe 
de  Tobar  is  dead.  He  was  a  gallant  gentleman,  but 


BUCCANEER 


I  loved  him  not.     My  father,  you  will  not  part  us 


now?" 


"  !Nb,"  said  the  old  man,  "  I  will  not  try.  I  care 
not  now  what  his  birth  or  lineage,  he  hath  shown 
himself  a  man  of  noblest  soul.  You  heard  the  wish 
of  de  Tobar.  It  shall  be  so.  This  is  the  betrothal 
of  my  daughter,  gentlemen.  Art  satisfied,  Captain  ? 
She  is  noble  enough,  she  hath  lineage  and  race 
enough  for  both  of  you.  My  interest  with  our  royal 
master  will  secure  you  that  patent  of  nobility  you 
will  adorn,  for  bravely  have  you  won  it." 


24  869 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XXII 

IN  WHICH  SIR   HENRY   MORGAN   SEES  A   CROSS,  CHERISHES  A 
HOPE,  AND  MAKES  A  CLAIM 

HESE  noble  and  generous  words  of  the 
Viceroy  put  such  heart  into  the  young 
Spanish  soldier  that,  forgetting  his 
wounds  and  his  weakness,  he  rose  to  his 
feet.  Indeed,  the  blow 
that  struck  him  down 
had  stunned  him  rather 
than  anything  else,  and 
he  would  not  have  been 
put  out  of  the  combat  so 
easily  had  it  not  been 
that  he  was  exhausted  by 
the  hardships  of  those 
two  terrible  days  through 
which  he  had  just  passed. 
The  terrific  mountain  climb,  the  wild  ride,  the  fierce 
battle,  his  consuming  anxiety  for  the  woman  he  loved 
—these  things  had  so  wearied  him  that  he  had  been 
unequal  to  the  struggle.  The  stimulants  which  had 

370 


BUCCANEER 


been  administered  to  him  by  his  loving  friends  had 
been  of  great  service  also  in  reviving  his  strength, 
and  he  faced  the  Viceroy,  his  hand  in  that  of  Mer 
cedes,  with  a  flush  of  pleasure  and  pride  upon  his 
face. 

Yet,  after  all,  it  was  the  consciousness  of  having 
won  permission  to  marry  the  woman  whom  he 
adored  and  who  loved  him  with  a  passion  that  would 
fain  overmatch  his  own,  were  that  possible,  that  so 
quickly  restored  him  to  strength.  With  the  realiza 
tion  of  wThat  he  had  gained  there  came  to  him  such 
an  access  of  vigor  as  amazed  those  who  a  few 
moments  before  had  thought  him  dead  or  dying. 

"  But  for  these  poor  people  who  have  so  suffered, 
this,  my  lord,"  he  exclaimed  with  eager  gratitude 
and  happiness,  "  hath  been  a  happy  day  for  me.  Last 
night,  sir,  on  the  beach  yonder,  I  found  a  mother. 
A  good  sister,  she,  of  Holy  Church,  who,  rather  than 
carry  the  ladders  which  gave  access  to  the  town,  with 
the  fearful  alternative  of  dishonor  as  a  penalty  for 
refusal,  killed  herself  with  her  own  hand.  She  died 
not,  praise  God,  before  she  had  received  absolution 
from  a  brave  priest,  although  the  holy  father  paid 
for  his  office  with  his  life,  for  Morgan  killed  him. 
To-night  I  find,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the  favor  of 
your  Excellency  and  the  kindness  of  the  lady's  heart 
wife." 

371 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


He  dropped  upon  his  knees  as  he  spoke  and  pressed 
a  long,  passionate  kiss  upon  the  happy  Mercedes' 
extended  hand. 

"  Lady,"  he  said,  looking  up  at  her,  his  soul  in 
his  eyes,  his  heart  in  his  voice,  "  I  shall  strive  to 
make  myself  noble  for  thee,  and  all  that  I  am,  and 
shall  be,  shall  be  laid  at  thy  feet." 

"  I  want  not  more  than  thyself,  Senor  Alvarado," 
answered  the  girl  bravely  before  them  all,  her  own 
cheeks  aglow  with  happy  color.  "  You  have  enough 
honor  already.  You  satisfy  me." 

"  Long  life  to  Donna  de  Lara  and  Captain  Al- 
varado !  "  cried  old  Agramonte,  lifting  up  his  hand. 
"  The  handsomest,  the  noblest,  the  bravest  pair  in 
New  Spain!  May  they  be  the  happiest!  Give  me 
leave,  sir,"  added  the  veteran  captain  turning  to  the 
Viceroy.  "  You  have  done  well.  Say  I  not  true, 
gentlemen?  And  as  for  the  young  captain,  as  he 
is  fit  to  stand  with  the  best,  it  is  meet  that  he  should 
win  the  heart  of  the  loveliest.  His  mother  he  has 
found.  None  may  know  his  father " 

"Let  me  be  heard,"  growled  a  deep  voice  in  broken 
Spanish,  as  the  one-eyed  old  sailor  thrust  himself 
through  the  crowd. 

"  Hornigold,  by  hell !  "  screamed  the  bound  buc 
caneer  captain,  who  had  been  a  silent  spectator  of 


372 


BUCCANEER 


events  from  the  background.  "  I  missed  you.  Have 
you " 

The  boatswain,  mindful  of  his  safety,  for  in  the 
hurry  and  confusion  of  the  attack  any  Spaniard 
would  have  cut  him  down  before  he  could  explain, 
had  followed  hard  upon  the  heels  of  Alvarado  and 
de  Tobar  when  they  entered  the  fort  and  had  con 
cealed  himself  in  one  of  the  inner  rooms  until  he  saw 
a  convenient  opportunity  for  disclosing  himself.  He 
had  been  a  witness  to  all  that  had  happened  in  the 
hall,  and  he  realized  that  the  time  had  now  come  to 
strike  the  first  of  the  blows  he  had  prepared  against 
his  old  captain.  That  in  the  striking,  he  wrecked 
the  life  and  happiness  of  those  he  had  assisted  for 
his  own  selfish  purpose  mattered  little  to  him.  He 
had  so  long  brooded  and  thought  upon  one  idea,  so 
planned  and  schemed  to  bring  about  one  thing,  that 
a  desire  for  revenge  fairly  obsessed  him. 

As  soon  as  he  appeared  from  behind  the  hangings 
where  he  had  remained  in  hiding,  it  was  evident  to 
every  one  that  he  was  a  buccaneer.  Swords  were  out 
in  an  instant. 

"  What's  this  ?  "  cried  the  Viceroy  in  great  sur 
prise.  "  Another  pirate  free  and  unbound  ?  Seize 
him !  " 

Three  or  four  of  the  men  made  a  rush  toward  the 


373 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


old  buccaneer,  but  with  wonderful  agility  lie  avoided 
them  and  sprang  to  the  side  of  Alvarado. 

"  Back,  seriors !  "  he  cried  coolly  and  composedly, 
facing  their  uplifted  points. 

"  My  lord/'  said  Alvarado,  "  bid  these  gentlemen 
withdraw  their  weapons.  This  man  is  under  my 
protection." 

"Who  is  he?" 

"  He  I  told  you  of,  sir,  who  set  me  free,  provided 
Donna  Mercedes  with  a  weapon,  opened  the  gate  for 
us.  One  Benjamin  Hornigold." 

"  Thou  damned  traitor !  "  yelled  that  fierce,  high 
voice  on  the  outskirts  of  the  crowd. 

There  was  a  sudden  commotion.  A  bound  man 
burst  through  the  surprised  cavaliers  and  threw  him 
self,  all  fettered  though  he  was,  upon  the  sailor.  He 
was  without  weapon  or  use  of  hand,  yet  he  bit  him 
savagely  on  the  cheek. 

"  Hell !  "  he  cried,  as  they  pulled  him  away  and 
dragged  him  to  his  feet,  "  had  I  a  free  hand  for  a 
second  you'd  pay !  As  it  is,  I've  marked  you,  and 
you'll  carry  the  traitor's  brand  until  you  die !  Curse 
you,  whatever  doom  comes  to  me,  may  worse  come 
to  you !  " 

The  old  buccaneer  was  an  awful  figure,  as  he 
poured  out  a  horrible  torrent  of  curses  and  impre 
cations  upon  the  traitor,  grinding  his  teeth  beneath 

374 


BUCCANEER 


his  foam-flecked  lips,  and  even  the  iron-hearted 
sailor,  striving  to  staunch  the  blood,  involuntarily 
shrank  hack  appalled  before  him. 

"  Senpr,"  he  cried,  appealing  to  Alvarado,  "  I  was 
to  have  protection !  " 

"  You  shall  have  it,"  answered  the  young  soldier, 
himself  shrinking  away  from  the  traitor,  although 
by  his  treason  he  had  so  greatly  benefited.  "  My 
lord,  had  it  not  been  for  this  man,  I'd  still  be  a 
prisoner,  the  lady  Mercedes  like  those  wretched 
women  weeping  in  the  streets.  I  promised  him,  in 
your  name,  protection,  immunity  from  punishment, 
and  liberty  to  depart  with  as  much  of  the  treasure 
of  the  Porto  Bello  plate  galleon,  which  was  wrecked 
on  the  sands  a  few  days  ago,  of  which  I  told  you,  as 
he  could  carry." 

"  And  you  did  not  exceed  your  authority,  Captain 
Alvarado.  We  contemn  treason  in  whatsoever  guise 
it  doth  appear,  and  we  hate  and  loathe  a  traitor,  but 
thy  word  is  passed.  It  will  be  held  inviolate  as 
our  own.  You  are  free,  knave.  I  will  appoint 
soldiers  to  guard  you,  for  should  my  men  see  you, 
not  knowing  this,  they  would  cut  you  down;  and 
when  occasion  serves  you  may  take  passage  in  the 
first  ship  that  touches  here  and  go  where  you  will. 
Nay,  we  will  be  generous,  although  we  like  you  not. 
We  are  much  indebted  to  you.  We  have  profited  by 

375 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


what  we  do  despise.  We  would  reward  you.  Ask 
of  me  something  that  I  may  measure  my  obligation 
for  a  daughter's  honor  saved,  if  you  can  realize  or 
feel  what  that  may  be." 

"  My  lord,  hear  me/7  said  the  boatswain  quickly. 
"  There  be  reasons  and  reasons  for  betrayals,  and  I 
have  one.  This  man  was  my  captain.  I  perilled  my 
life  a  dozen  times  to  save  his ;  I  followed  him  blindly 
upon  a  hundred  terrible  ventures ;  I  lived  but  for  his 
service.  My  soul — when  I  had  a  soul — was  at  his 
command;  I  loved  him.  Ay,  gentlemen,  rough,  un 
couth,  old  though  I  am,  I  loved  this  man.  He  could 
ask  of  me  anything  that  I  could  have  given  him  and 
he  would  not  have  been  refused. 

"  Sirs,  there  came  to  me  a  young  brother  of  mine, 
not  such  as  I,  a  rude,  unlettered  sailor,  but  a  gentle 
man — and  college  bred.  There  are  quarterings  on 
my  family  scutcheon,  sirs,  back  in  Merry  England, 
had  I  the  wit  or  care  to  trace  it.  He  was  a  reckless 
youth,  chafing  under  the  restraints  of  that  hard 
religion  to  which  we  had  been  born.  The  free  life 
of  a  brother-of-the-coast  attracted  him.  He  became 
like  me,  a  buccaneer.  I  strove  to  dissuade  him,  but 
without  avail.  He  was  the  bravest,  the  handsomest, 
the  most  gallant  of  us  all.  He  came  into  my  old 
heart  like  a  son.  We  are  not  all  brute,  gentlemen. 
I  have  waded  in  blood  and  plunder  like  the  rest,  but 

376 


BUCCANEER 


in  every  heart  there  is  some  spot  that  beats  for 
things  better.  I  divided  my  love  between  him  and 
my  captain.  This  man " — he  pointed  to  his  old 
master  with  his  blunted  finger,  drawing  himself  up 
until  he  looked  taller  than  he  was,  his  one  eye  flash 
ing  with  anger  and  hatred,  as  with  a  stern,  rude 
eloquence  he  recited  his  wrongs,  the  grim  indictment 
of  a  false  friend — "  this  man  betrayed  us  at  Panama. 
With  what  he  had  robbed  his  comrades  of  he  bought 
immunity,  even  knighthood,  from  the  King  of 
England.  He  was  made  Vice-Governor  of  Jamaica 
and  his  hand  fell  heavily  upon  those  who  had  blindly 
followed  him  in  the  old  days,  men  who  had  served 
him  and  trusted  him,  as  I — men  whose  valor  and 
courage  had  made  him  what  he  was. 

"  He  took  the  lad  I  loved,  and  because  his  proud 
spirit  would  not  break  to  his  heavy  hand  and  he 
answered  him  like  the  bold,  free  sailor  he  was,  he 
hanged  him  like  a  dog,  sirs  !  I — I — stooped  for  his 
life.  I,  who  cared  not  for  myself,  offered  to  stand  in 
his  place  upon  the  gallows  platform,  though  I  have 
no  more  taste  for  the  rope  than  any  of  you,  if  only 
he  might  go  free.  He  laughed  at  me !  He  mocked 
me  !  I  urged  my  ancient  service — he  drove  me  from 
him  with  curses  and  threats  like  a  whipped  dog.  I 
could  have  struck  him  down  then,  but  that  I  wanted 
to  save  him  for  a  revenge  that  might  measure  my 

377 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


hate,  slow  and  long  and  terrible.     Not  mere  sudden 
death,  that  would  not  suffice.     Something  more. 

"  Treachery  ?  My  lord,  his  was  the  first.  I 
played  his  own  game  and  have  overcome  it  with  the 
same.  D'ye  blame  me  now  ?  Take  your  treasure ! 
I  want  none  of  it.  I  want  only  him  and  my  revenge  ! 
Liberty's  dear  to  all  of  us.  I'll  give  mine  up.  You 
may  take  my  life  with  the  rest,  but  first  give  me  this 
man.  Let  me  deal  with  him.  I  will  revenge  you  all, 
and  when  I  have  finished  with  him  I  will  yield  myself 
to  you." 

He  was  a  hideous  figure  of  old  hate  and  rancor,  of 
unslaked  passion,  of  monstrous  possibilities  of  cruel 
torture.  Hardened  as  they  were  by  the  customs  of 
their  age  to  hatred,  malice,  and  all  uncharitableness, 
the  listeners  turned  cold  at  such  an  exhibition  of 
malefic  passion,  of  consuming  hatred.  Even  Morgan 
himself,  intrepid  as  he  was,  shrank  from  the  awful 
menace  of  the  mordant  words. 

"  My  lord !  "  shouted  the  unfortunate  captain, 
"  give  him  no  heed.  He  lies  in  his  throat;  he  lies  a 
thousand  times.  'Twas  a  mutinous  dog,  that  brother 
of  his,  that  I  hanged.  I  am  your  prisoner.  You  are 
a  soldier.  I  look  for  speedy  punishment,  certain 
death  it  may  be,  but  let  it  not  be  from  his  hand." 

'Think,  seiiors,"  urged  the  boatswain;  "you 
would  hang  him  perhaps.  It  is  the  worst  that  you 

378 


BUCCANEER 


could  do.  Is  that  punishment  meet  for  him?  lie 
has  despoiled  women,  bereft  children,  tortured  men, 
in  tke  streets  of  La  Guayra.  A  more  fitting  punish 
ment  should  await  him.  Think  of  Panama,  of  Mar- 
acaibo,  of  Porto  Bello !  Kecall  what  he  did  there. 
Is  hanging  enough?  Give  him  to  me.  Let  me 
have  my  way.  You  have  your  daughter,  safe,  un 
harmed,  within  the  shelter  of  her  lover's  arms.  The 
town  is  yours.  You  have  won  the  fight.  'Twas  I 
that  did  it.  Without  me  your  wives,  your  children, 
your  subjects,  would  have  been  slaughtered  in  Car 
acas  and  this  dog  would  have  been  free  to  go  further 
afield  for  prey.  lie  coveted  your  daughter — would 
fain  make  her  his  slave  in  some  desert  island.  Give 
him  to  rne  !  " 

"  Old  man,"  said  the  Viceroy,  "  I  take  back  my 
words.  You  have  excuse  for  your  betrayal,  but 
your  request  I  can  not  grant.  I  have  promised  him 
to  Alvarado.  ^N"ay,  urge  me  no  further.  My  word 
is  passed." 

'  Thank  you,  thank  you !  "  cried  Morgan,  breath 
ing  again. 

"Silence,  you  dog !  "  said  the  Viceroy,  with  a  look 
of  contempt  on  his  face.  "  But  take  heart,  man,"  he 
added,  as  he  saw  the  look  of  rage  and  disappoint 
ment  sweep  over  the  face  of  the  old  sailor,  "  he  will 
not  escape  lightly.  Would  God  he  had  blood  enough 

379 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


in  his  body  to  pay  drop  by  drop  for  all  he  hath  shed. 
His  death  shall  be  slow,  lingering,  terrible.  You 
have  said  it,  and  you  shall  see  it,  too,  and  you  will. 
He  shall  have  time  to  repent  and  to  think  upon  the 
past.  You  may  glut  yourself  with  his  suffering  and 
feed  fat  your  revenge.  'Twill  be  a  meet,  a  fitting 
punishment  so  far  as  our  poor  minds  can  compass. 
We  have  already  planned  it." 

"  You  Spanish  hounds !  "  roared  Morgan  stoutly, 
"  I  am  a  subject  of  England.  I  demand  to  be  sent 
there  for  trial." 

"  You  are  an  outlaw,  sir,  a  man  of  no  country,  a 
foe  to  common  humanity,  and  taken  in  your  crimes. 
Silence,  I  say !  "  again  cried  the  old  man.  "  You 
pollute  the  air  with  your  speech.  Take  him  away 
and  hold  him  safe.  To-morrow  he  shall  be  pun 
ished." 

'  Without  a  trial  ? "  screamed  the  old  buccaneer, 
struggling  forward. 

'  Thou  art  tried  already.  Thou  hast  been  weighed 
in  the  balances  and  found  wanting.  Alvarado,  art 
ready  for  duty  ?  " 

"  Ready,  your  Excellency,"  answered  the  young 
man,  "  and  for  this  duty." 

1  Take  him  then,  I  give  him  into  your  hands. 
You  know  what  is  to  be  done ;  see  you  do  it  well." 

"  Ay,  my  lord.  Into  the  strong-room  with  him, 
380 


BUCCANEER 


men !  "  ordered  the  young  Spaniard,  stepping  un 
steadily  forward. 

As  he  did  so  the  crucifix  he  wore,  which  the  dis 
order  in  his  dress  exposed  to  view,  flashed  into  the 
light  once  more.  Morgan's  eyes  fastened  upon  it 
for  the  first  time. 

"  By  heaven,  sir !  "  he  shouted.  "  Where  got  ye 
that  cross  ?  " 

"  From  his  mother,  noble  captain,"  interrupted 
Hornigold,  coming  closer. 

He  had  another  card  to  play.  He  had  waited  for 
this  moment,  and  he  threw  back  his  head  with  a 
long,  bitter  laugh.  There  was  such  sinister,  such 
vicious  mockery  and  meaning  in  his  voice,  with  not 
the  faintest  note  of  merriment  to  relieve  it,  that  his 
listeners  looked  aghast  upon  him. 

"  His    mother  ? "    cried    Morgan.       ''  Then    this 

•    >7 

He  paused.  The  assembled  cavaliers,  Mercedes, 
and  Alvarado  stood  with  bated  breath  waiting  for 
the  terrible  boatswain's  answer. 

"  The  boy  I  took  into  Cuchillo  when  we  were  at 
Panama,"  said  Hornigold  in  triumph. 

"  And  my  son !  "  cried  the  old  buccaneer  with 
malignant  joy. 

A  great  cry  of  repudiation  and  horror  burst  from 
the  lips  of  Alvarado.  The  others  stared  with  aston- 

381 


SIR    HENRr   MORGAN 


ishment  and  incredulity  written  on  their  faces.  Mer 
cedes  moved  closer  to  her  lover  and  strove  to  take 
his  hand. 

kk  My  lords  and  gentlemen,  hear  me,"  continued 
the  buccaneer,  the  words  rushing'  from  his  lips  in  his 
excitement,  for  in  the  new  relationship  he  so 
promptly  and  boldly  affirmed,  he  thought  he  saw  a 
way  of  escape  from  his  imminent  peril.  "  There 
lived  in  Maracaibo  a  Spanish  woman,  Maria  Zerega, 
who  loved  me.  By  her  there  was  a  child — mine — a 
boy.  I  took  them  with  me  to  Panama.  The  pest 
ilence  raged  there  after  the  sack.  She  fell  ill,  and 
as  she  lay  dying  besought  me  to  save  the  boy.  I 
sent  Ilornigold  to  her  with  instructions  to  do  her 
will,  and  he  carried  the  baby  to  the  village  of 
Cuchillo  with  that  cross  upon  his  breast  and  left 
liiiu.  We  lost  sight  of  him.  There,  the  next  .ay, 
you  found  him.  He  has  English  blood  in  Ins  veins. 
He  is  my  son,  sirs,  a  noble  youth,"  0_  ,ered  the  old 
man.  "  Now  you  have  given  me  to  him.  7Tis  not 
meet  that  the  father  should  suffer  at  the  hands  of 
the  son.  You  shall  set  me  free,"  added  the  man, 
turning  to  Alvarado. 

"  Rather  than  that—  ''  cried  TTornigold,  viciously 
springing  forward  knife  in  hand. 

He  was  greatly  surprised  at  the  bold  yet  cunning 
appeal  of  his  former  captain. 

382 


BUCCANEER 


"  Back,  man !  "  interposed  the  Viceroy.  "  And 
were  you  a  thousand  times  his  father,  were  you  my 
brother,  my  own  father,  you  should,  nevertheless, 
die,  as  it  hath  been  appointed." 

"  Can  this  be  true  ?  "  groaned  Alvarado,  turning 
savagely  to  Hornigold. 

"I  believe  it  to  be.'7 

"  Why  not  kill  me  last  night  then  ?  " 

"  I  wanted  you  for  this  minute.  'Tis  a  small  part 
of  my  revenge.  To  see  him  die  and  by  his  son's 
hand —  A  worthy  father,  noble  son— 

"  Silence !  "  shouted  de  Lara.  "  Art  thou  with 
out  bowels  of  compassion,  man !  Alvarado,  I  pity 
thee,  but  this  makes  the  promise  of  the  hour  void, 
^ay,  my  daughter  " — as  Mercedes  came  forward  to 
entreat  him —  "  I'd  rather  slay  thee  with  my  own 
hav  1  -than  wed  thee  to  the  son  of  such  as  yon !  " 

"  My  '.ord,  'tis  just,"  answered  Alvarado.  His 
anguish  was  -pitiful  to  behold.  "  I  am  as  innocent  of 
my  parentage  as  any  child,  yet  the  suffering  must 
be  mine.  The  sins  of  the  fathers  are  visited  on  the 
children.  I  did  deem  it  yesterday  a  coward's  act  to 
cut  the  thread  of  my  life  but  now — I  cannot  survive 
— I  cannot  live— and  know  that  in  my  veins — runs 
the  blood  of  such  a  monster.  My  lord,  you  have 
been  good  to  me.  Gentlemen,  you  have  honored 
me.  Mercedes,  you  have  loved  me — O  God!  You, 

383 


SJR    HENRT   MORGAN 


infamous  man,  you  have  fathered  me.  May  the 
curse  of  God,  that  God  whom  you  mock,  rest  upon 
you!  My  mother  loved  this  man  once,  it  seems. 
Well,  nobly  did  she  expiate.  I  go  to  join  her.  Pray 
for  me.  Stay  not  my  hand.  Farewell !  " 

He  raised  his  poniard. 

"  Let  no  one  stop  him,"  cried  the  old  Viceroy  as 
Alvarado  darted  the  weapon  straight  at  his  own 
heart.  "  This  were  the  best  end." 

Mercedes  had  stood  dazed  during  this  conversa 
tion,  but  with  a  shriek  of  horror,  as  she  saw  the  flash 
of  the  blade,  she  threw  herself  upon  her  lover,  and 
strove  to  wrench  the  dagger  from  him. 

"  Alvarado  !  "  she  cried,  "  whatever  thou  art,  thou 
hast  my  heart !  Nay,  slay  me  first,  if  thou  wilt." 


384 


BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER    XXIII 

HOW  THE  GOOD   PRIEST   FRA  ANTONIO   DE   LAS  CASAS  TOLD 

THE   TRUTH,   TO  THE  GREAT   RELIEF    OF    CAPTAIN   ALVA- 

RADO  AND   DONNA  MERCEDES,  AND   THE    DISCOMFI- 

TURE  OF     MASTER     BENJAMIN    HORNIGOLD     AND 

SIR   HENRY  MORGAN 


Y,  strike,  Alvarado,"  cried  the  Viceroy, 
filled  with  shame  and  surprise  at  the 
sight  of  his  daughter's  extraordinary 
boldness,  "  for  though  I  love  her,  I'd 
rather  see  her  dead  than 
married  to  the  son  of 
such  as  he.  Drive  home 
your  weapon !  "  he  cried 
in  bitter  scorn.  "  Why 
stay  your  hand?  Only 
blood  can  wash  out  the 
shame  she  hath  put  upon 
me  before  you  all  this 
day.  Thou  hast  a  dag 
ger.  Use  it,  I  say !  " 


"  Do  you  hear  my  father's  words,  Alvarado  ? " 
cried  Mercedes  sinking  on  her  knees  and  stretching 
up  her  hands  to  him.  "  'Tis  a  sharp  weapon.  One 
touch  will  end  it  all,  and  you  can  follow." 

385 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


"  God  help  me !  "  cried  the  unhappy  young  Cap 
tain,  throwing  aside  the  poniard  and  clasping  his 
hands  to  his  eyes.  "  I  cannot !  Hath  no  one  here 
a  point  for  me  ?  If  I  have  deserved  well  of  you  or 
the  State,  sir,  bid  them  strike  home." 

"  Live,  young  sir,"  interrupted  Morgan,  "  there 
are  other  women  in  the  world.  Come  with  me 
and- 

"  If  you  are  my  father,  you  have  but  little  time  in 
this  world,"  interrupted  the  Spaniard,  turning  to 
Morgan  and  gnashing  his  teeth  at  him.  "  I  doubt 
not  but  you  were  cruel  to  my  mother.  I  hate  you! 
I  loathe  you!  I  despise  you  for  all  your  crimes! 
And  most  of  all  for  bringing  me  into  the  world.  I 
swear  to  you,  h..J  I  the  power,  I'd  not  add  another 
moment  to  your  life.  The  worM  were  better  rid  oi 
you." 

"  You  have  been  well  trained  by  your  Spanish 
nurses,"  cried  Morgan  resolutely,  although  with 
sneering  mockery  and  hate  in  his  voice,  "  and  well 
you  seem  to  know  the  duty  owed  by  son  to  sire." 

"  You  have  done  nothing  for  me,"  returned  the 
young  soldier,  "  you  abandoned  me.  Such  as  you 
are  you  were  my  father.  You  cast  me  away  to 
shift  for  myself.  Had  it  not  been  for  these  friends 
here " 

"  Nay,"  said  Morgan,  "  I  thought  you  dead.   That 

380 


k 


P-, 


A    xst-  .-^ 


God  help  me  !"  cried  Alvarado,  throwing  aside  the  poniard, 
11  I  cannot  !  " 


BUCCANEER 


cursed  one-eyed  traitor  there  told  me  so,  else  I'd 
sought  you  out." 

"  Glad  am  I  that  you  did  not,  for  I  have  passed 
my  life  where  no  child  of  yours  could  hope  to  be — 
among  honorable  men,  winning  their  respect,  which 
I  now  forfeit  because  of  thee." 

"  Alvarado,"  said  the  Viceroy,  "  this  much  will  I 
do  for  thee.  He  shall  be  shot  like  a  soldier  instead 
of  undergoing  the  punishment  we  had  designed  for 
him.  This  much  for  his  fatherhood." 

"  My  lord,  I  ask  it  not,"  answered  the  young  man. 

"  Sir/7  exclaimed  Morgan,  a  gleam  of  relief  pass 
ing  across  his  features,  for  he  knew,  of  course,  that 
death  was  his  only  expectation,  and  he  had  greatly 
feared  that  his  taking  off  would  be  accompanied  by 
the  most  horrible  tortures  that  could  be  devised  by 
people  who  were  not  the  least  expert  in  the  practice 
of  the  unmentionable  cruelties  of  the  age,  "  you,  at 
least,  are  a  father,  and  I  thank  you." 

"  Yes,  I  am  a  father  and  a  most  unhappy  one," 
groaned  de  Lara,  turning  toward  Alvarado.  "  Per 
haps  it  is  well  you  did  not  accomplish  your  purpose 
of  self-destruction  after  all,  my  poor  friend.  As  I 
said  before,  Spain  hath  need  of  you.  You  may  go 
back  to  the  old  country  beyond  the  great  sea.  All 
here  will  keep  your  secret;  my  favor  will  be  of 


389 


SIR  HENRT   MORGAN 


service  to  you  even  there.  You  can  make  a  new 
career  with  a  new  name." 

"  And  Mercedes  ?  "  asked  Alvarado. 

"  You  have  no  longer  any  right  to  question.  Ah, 
well,  it  is  just  that  you  should  hear.  The  girl  goes 
to  a  convent ;  the  only  cloak  for  her  is  in  our  Holy 
Religion — and  so  ends  the  great  race  of  de  Laras !  " 

"  No,  no,"  pleaded  Mercedes,  "send  me  not  there  ! 
Let  me  go  with  him !  "  She  stepped  nearer  to  him, 
heautiful  and  beseeching.  "  My  father,"  she  urged, 
"  you  love  me."  She  threw  her  arms  around  his 
neck  and  laid  her  head  upon  his  breast.  Upon  it  her 
father  tenderly  pressed  his  hand.  "  You  loved  my 
mother,  did  you  not  ?  "  she  continued.  "  Think  of 
her.  Condemn  me  not  to  the  living  death  of  a  con 
vent — away  from  him.  If  that  man  be  his  father — 
and  I  can  not  believe  it,  there  is  some  mistake,  'tis 
impossible  that  anything  so  foul  should  bring  into 
the  world  a  man  so  noble — yet  I  love  him !  You 
know  him.  You  have  tried  him  a  thousand  times. 
He  has  no  qualities  of  his  base  ancestry.  His  mother 
at  least  died  like  a  Spanish  gentlewoman.  My  lords, 
gentlemen,  some  of  you  have  known  me  from  my 
childhood.  You  have  lived  in  our  house  and  have 
followed  the  fortunes  of  my  father — you  have  grown 
gray  in  our  service.  Intercede  for  me !  " 

'  Your  Excellency,"  said  old  Don  Caesar  de  Agra- 
390 


B UCC4NEER 


monte,  a  man,  who,  as  Mercedes  had  said,  had  liter 
ally  grown  gray  in  the  service  of  the  Viceroy,  and 
who  was  man  of  birth  scarcely  inferior  to  his  own, 
"  the  words  of  the  Lady  Mercedes  move  me  pro 
foundly.  By  your  grace's  leave,  I  venture  to  say 
that  she  hath  spoken  well  and  nobly,  and  that  the 
young  Alvarado,  whom  we  have  seen  in  places  that 
try  men's  souls  to  the  extreme,  hath  always  com 
ported  himself  as  a  Spanish  gentleman  should.  This 
may  be  a  lie.  But  if  it  is  true,  his  old  association 
with  you  and  yours,  and  some  humor  of  courage  and 
fidelity  and  gentleness  that  I  doubt  not  his  mother 
gave  him,  have  washed  out  the  taint.  Will  you  not 
reconsider  your  words?  Give  the  maiden  to  the 
man.  I  am  an  old  soldier,  sir,  and  have  done  you 
some  service.  I  would  cheerfully  stake  my  life  to 
maintain  his  honor  and  his  gentleness  at  the  sword's 
point." 

"  He  speaks  well,  Don  Alvaro,"  cried  Captain 
Gayoso,  another  veteran  scldier.  "  I  join  my  plea 
to  that  of  my  comrade,  Don  Caesar." 

"  And  I  add  my  word,  sir." 

"  And  I,  mine." 

"And  I,  too,"  came  from  the  other  men  of  the 
suite. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  thank  you,"  said  Alvarado,  grate 
fully  looking  at  the  little  group ;  "  this  is  one  sweet 

891 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


use  of  my  adversity.  I  knew  not  I  was  so  be 
friended— 

"  You  hear,  you  hear,  my  father,  what  these  noble 
gentlemen  say  ? "  interrupted  Mercedes. 

"  But,"  continued  Alvarado  sadly,  "  it  is  not  meet 
that  the  blood  of  the  princely  de  Laras  should  be 
mingled  with  mine.  Rather  the  ancient  house  should 
fall  with  all  its  honors  upon  it  than  be  kept  alive  by 
degradation.  I  thank  you,  but  it  can  not  be." 

"  Your  Excellency,  we  humbly  press  you  for  an 
answer,"  persisted  Agramonte. 

"  Gentlemen — and  you  have  indeed  proven  your 
selves  generous  and  gentle  soldiers — I  appreciate 
what  you  say.  Your  words  touch  me  profoundly.  I 
know  how  you  feel,  but  Alvarado  is  right.  I  swear 
to  you  that  I  would  rather  let  my  line  perish  than 
keep  it  in  existence  by  such  means.  .Rather  any 
thing  than  that  my  daughter  should  marry — forgive 
me,  lad — the  bastard  son  of  a  pirate  and  buccaneer, 
a  wicked  monster,  like  that  man !  " 

"  Sir,"  exclaimed  a  thin,  faint  old  voice  from  the 
outskirts  of  the  room,  "  no  base  blood  runs  in  the 
veins  of  that  young  man.  You  are  all  mistaken." 

"  Death  and  fury !  "  shouted  Morgan,  who  was 
nearer  to  him,  "  it  is  the  priest !  Art  alive  ?  Scuttle 
me,  I  struck  you  down — I  do  not  usually  need  to 
give  a  second  blow." 


BUCCANEER 


"  Who  is  this  ?  "  asked  de  Lara.  "  Back,  gentle 
men,  and  give  him  access  to  our  person." 

The  excited  men  made  way  for  a  tall,  pale,  gaunt 
figure  of  a  man  clad  in  the  habit  of  a  Dominican. 
As  he  crossed  his  thin  hands  on  his  breast  and  bowed 
low  before  the  Viceroy,  the  men  marked  a  deeply 
scarred  wound  upon  his  shaven  crown,  a  wound 
recently  made,  for  it  was  still  raw  and  open.  The 
man  tottered  as  he  stood  there. 

"  ?Tis  the  priest !  "  exclaimed  Hornigold,  who  had 
been  a  silent  and  disappointed  spectator  of  the  scene 
at  last.  "He  lives  then?" 

"  The  good  father !  "  said  Mercedes,  stepping 
from  her  father's  side  and  scanning  the  man  eagerly. 
"  He  faints !  A  chair  for  him,  gentlemen,  and 
wine !  " 

"  !Now,  sir,"  said  the  Viceroy  as  the  priest  seated 
himself  on  a  stool  which  willing  hands  had  placed 
for  him,  after  he  had  partaken  of  a  generous  draught 
of  wine,  which  greatly  refreshed  him,  "  your 
name  ?  " 

"  Fra  Antonio  de  Las  Casas,  your  Excellency,  a 
Dominican,  from  Peru,  bound  for  Spain  on  the  plate 
galleon,  the  Almirante  Recalde,  captured  by  that 
man.  I  was  stricken  down  by  his  blow  as  I  admin 
istered  absolution  to  the  mother  of  the  young  cap 
tain.  I  recovered  and  crawled  into  the  woods  for 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


concealment,  and  when  I  saw  jour  soldiers,  your 
Excellency,  I  followed,  but  slowly,  for  I  am  an  old 
man  and  sore  wounded/' 

"  Would  that  my  blow  had  bit  deeper,  thou  false 
priest!  "  roared  Morgan  in  furious  rage. 

"  Be  still!  "  commanded  the  old  Viceroy  sternly. 
"  Speak  but  another  word  until  I  give  you  leave  and 
I'll  have  you  gagged  !  You  said  strange  words,  Holy 
Father,  when  you  came  into  the  hall." 

"  I  did,  my  lord." 

"  You  heard " 

"  Some  of  the  conversation,  sir,  from  which  I 
gathered  that  this  unfortunate  man  "•  —pointing  to 
Morgan,  who  as  one  of  the  chief  actors  in  the  trans 
action  had  been  placed  in  the  front  rank  of  the 
circle,  although  tightly  bound  and  guarded  by  the 
grim  soldiers — "  claimed  to  be  the  father  of  the 
brave  young  soldier." 

"  Ay,  and  he  hath  established  the  claim," 
answered  de  Lara. 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  that  can  not  be." 

"  Why  not,  sir,"  interrupted  Alvarado,  stepping 
forward. 

"  Because  it  is  not  true." 

"  Thank  God,  thank  God!  "  cried  Alvarado.  In 
deed,  he  almost  shouted  in  his  relief. 

"  How  know  you  this  ?  "  asked  Mercedes. 
3C4 


BUCCANEER 


"  My  lady,  gentles  all,  I  have  proof  irrefutable. 
He  is  not  the  child  of  that  wicked  man.  His  father 

"  I  care  not  who/7  cried  Alvarado,  having  passed 
from  death  unto  life  in  the  tremendous  moments, 
"  even  though  he  were  the  meanest  and  poorest 
peasant,  so  he  were  an  honest  man.77 

"  My  lord/7  said  the  priest,  "  he  was  a  noble 
gentleman.77 

"  I  knew  it,  I  knew  it !  77  cried  Mercedes.  "  I  said 
it  must  be  so.77 

"  Ay,  a  gentleman,  a  gentleman !  "  burst  from  the 
officers  in  the  room. 

"  Your  Excellency/7  continued  the  old  man,  turn 
ing  to  the  Viceroy.  "  His  blood  is  as  noble  as  your 
own.77 

ee  His  name  ? 77  said  the  old  man,  who  had  stood 
unmoved  in  the  midst  of  the  tumult. 

"  Captain  Alvarado  that  was/7  cried  the  Domin 
ican,  with  an  inborn  love  of  the  dramatic  in  his 
tones,  "  stand  forth.  My  lord  and  lady,  and  gentles 
all,  I  present  to  you  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman,  the 
son  of  his  excellency,  the  former  Governor  of  Pan 
ama  and  of  his  wife,  Isabella  Zerega,  a  noble  and 
virtuous  lady,  though  of  humbler  walk  of  life  and 
circumstance  than  her  husband.77 


395 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  De  Guzman!  De  Guzman!"  burst  forth  from 
the  soldiers. 

"  It  is  a  lie !  "  shouted  Hornigold.  "  He  is  Mor 
gan's  son.  He  was  given  to  me  as  such.  I  left  him 
at  Cuchillo.  You  found  him,  sir — 

He  appealed  to  the  Viceroy. 

"  My  venerable  father,  with  due  respect  to  you, 
sir,  we  require  something  more  than  your  unsup 
ported  statement  to  establish  so  great  a  fact/7  said 
the  Viceroy  deliberately,  although  the  sparkle  in  his 
eyes  belied  his  calm. 

'  Your  grace  speaks  well/7  said  Morgan,  clutch 
ing  at  his  hope  still. 

"  I  require  nothing  more.  I  see  and  believe/'  in 
terrupted  Mercedes. 

"  But  I  want  proof/'  sternly  said  her  father. 

"  And  you  shall  have  it,"  answered  the  priest. 
"  That  cross  he  wears — 

"  As  I  am  about  to  die !  "  exclaimed  Morgan,  "  I 
saw  his  mother  wear  it  many  a  time,  and  she  put  it 
upon  his  breast." 

"  Not  this  one,  sir,"  said  Fra  Antonio,  "  but  its 
fellow.  There  were  two  sisters  in  the  family  of 
Zerega.  There  were  two  crosses  made,  one  for  each. 
In  an  evil  hour  the  elder  sister  married  you " 

'  We  did,  indeed,  go  through  some  mockery  of  a 
ceremony,"  muttered  Morgan. 

396 


BUCCANEER 


"  You  did,  sir,  and  'twas  a  legal  one,  for  when 
you  won  her — by  what  means  I  know  not,  in  Mara- 
caibo — you  married  her.  You  were  forced  to  do  so 
before  you  received  her  consent.  One  of  my 
brethren  who  performed  the  service  told  me  the  tale. 
After  you  took  her  away  from  Maracaibo  her  old 
father,  broken  hearted  at  her  defection,  sought 
asylum  in  Panama  with  the  remaining  daughter,  and 
there  she  met  the  Governor,  Don  Francisco  de  Guz 
man.  He  loved  her,  he  wooed  and  won  her,  and  at 
last  he  married  her,  but  secretly.  She  was  poor 
and  humble  by  comparison  with  him;  she  had  only 
her  beauty  and  her  virtue  for  her  dower,  and  there 
were  reasons  why  it  were  better  the  marriage  should 
be  concealed  for  a  while. 

"  A  child  was  born.  You  were  that  child,  sir. 
Thither  came  this  man  with  his  bloody  marauders. 
In  his  train  was  his  wretched  wife  and  her  own  boy, 
an  infant,  born  but  a  short  time  before  that  of  the 
Governor.  De  Guzman  sallied  out  to  meet  them  and 
wras  killed  at  the  head  of  his  troops.  They  burned 
Panama  and  turned  that  beautiful  city  into  a  hell 
like  unto  La  Guayra.  I  found  means  to  secrete 
Isabella  de  Guzman  and  her  child.  The  plague 
raged  in  the  town.  This  man's  wife  died.  He  gave 
command  to  Hornigold  to  take  the  child  away.  He 
consulted  me,  as  a  priest  whose  life  he  had  spared, 

397 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


as  to  what  were  best  to  do  with  him,  and  I  advised 
Cuchillo,  but  his  child  died  with  its  mother  before  it 
could  be  taken  away. 

"  Isabella  de  Guzman  was  ill.  I  deemed  it  wise 
to  send  her  infant  away.  I  urged  her  to  substitute 
her  child  for  the  dead  body  of  the  other,  intending 
to  provide  for  its  reception  at  Cuchillo,  and  she  gave 
her  child  to  the  sailor.  In  the  confusion  and  terror 
it  must  have  been  abandoned  by  the  woman  to  whom 
it  was  delivered;  she,  it  was  supposed,  perished  when 
the  buccaneers  destroyed  the  place  out  of  sheer  wan 
tonness  when  they  left  Panama.  I  fell  sick  of  the 
fever  shortly  after  and  knew  not  what  happened. 
The  poor  mother  was  too  seriously  ill  to  do  any 
thing.  It  was  months  ere  we  recovered  and  could 
make  inquiries  for  the  child,  and  then  it  had  disap 
peared  and  we  found  no  trace  of  it.  You,  sir," 
pointing  to  Hornigold,  "  had  gone  away  with  the 
rest.  There  was  none  to  tell  us  anything.  We  never 
heard  of  it  again  and  supposed  it  dead." 

"  And  my  child,  sir  priest  ?  "  cried  Morgan.  What 
became  of  it  ?  " 

"  I  buried  it  in  the  same  grave  with  its  poor 
mother  with  the  cross  on  its  breast.  May  God  have 
mercy  on  their  souls !  " 

"  A  pretty  tale,  indeed,"  sneered  the  buccaneer. 


398 


BUCCANEER 


"  It  accounts  in  some  measure  for  the  situation/' 
said  the  Viceroy,  "  but  I  must  have  further  proof." 

"  Patience,  noble  sir,  and  you  shall  have  it. 
These  crosses  were  of  cunning  construction.  They 
open  to  those  who  know  the  secret.  There  is  room 
in  each  for  a  small  writing.  Each  maiden,  so  they 
told  me,  put  within  her  own  cross  her  marriage  lines. 
If  this  cross  hath  not  been  tampered  with  it  should 
bear  within  its  recess  the  attestation  of  the  wedding 
of  Francisco  de  Guzman  and  Isabella  Zerega." 

"  The  cross  hath  never  left  my  person/'  said  Al- 
varado,  "  since  I  can  remember." 

"  And  I  can  bear  testimony/'  said  the  Viceroy, 
"  that  he  hath  worn  it  constantly  since  a  child. 
Though  it  was  large  and  heavy  I  had  a  superstition 
that  it  should  never  leave  his  person.  Know  you  the 
secret  of  the  cross  ?  " 

"  I  do,  for  it  was  shown  me  by  the  woman  her 
self." 

"  Step  nearer,  Alvarado,"  said  de  Lara. 

"  Nay,  sir,"  said  the  aged  priest,  as  Alvarado 
came  nearer  him  and  made  to  take  the  cross  from  his 
breast,  "  thou  hast  worn  it  ever  there.  Wear  it  to 
the  end.  I  can  open  it  as  thou  standest." 

He  reached  up  to  the  carven  cross  depending  from 
the  breast  of  the  young  man  bending  over  him. 

"  A  pretty  story,"  sneered  Morgan  again,   "  but 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


had  I  aught  to  wager,  I'd  offer  it  with  heavy  odds 
that  that  cross  holds  the  marriage  lines  of  my  wife." 

"  Thou  wouldst  lose,  sir,  for  see,  gentlemen," 
cried  the  priest,  manipulating  the  crucifix  with  his 
long,  slender  fingers  and  finally  opening  it,  "  the 
opening!  And  here  is  a  bit  of  parchment !  Read  it, 
sir." 

He  handed  it  to  the  Viceroy.  The  old  noble,  lift 
ing  it  to  the  light,  scanned  the  closely-written,  faded 
lines  on  the  tiny  scrap  of  delicate  parchment. 

"  'Tis    a    certificate    of    marriage    of—  He 

paused. 

"  Maria  Zerega,"  said  Morgan,  triumphantly. 

"  Nay,"  answered  the  old  man,  and  his  triumph 
rung  in  his  voice,  "  of  Isabella  Zerega  and  Francisco 
do  Guzman." 

"  Hell  and  fury !  "  shouted  the  buccaneer,  "  'tis  a 
trick !  " 

"  And  signed  by " 

He  stopped  again,  peering  at  the  faded,  almost 
illegible  signature. 

"  By  whom,  your  Excellency  ?  "  interrupted  the 
priest  smiling. 

'Tis  a  bit  faded,"  said  the  old  man,  holding  it 
nearer.     "  Fra — An — tonio  !     Was  it  thou  ?  " 

"  Even  so,  sir.  I  married  the  mother,  as  I  buried 
her  yester  eve  upon  the  sand." 

400 


BUCCANEER 


"  'Tis  a  fact  established/'  said  the  Viceroy,  satis 
fied  at  last.  "  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman,  Alvarado 
that  was,  thy  birth  and  legitimacy  are  clear  and  un 
doubted.  There  by  your  side  stands  the  woman  you 
have  loved.  If  you  wish  her  now  I  shall  be  honored 
to  call  you  my  son." 

"  My  lord,"  answered  Alvarado,  "  that  I  am  the- 
son  of  an  honorable  gentleman  were  joy  enough,  but 
when  thou  givest  me  Donna  Mercedes —  < 

He  turned,  and  with  a  low  cry  the  girl  fled  to  his, 
arms.  He  drew  her  close  to  him  and  laid  his  hand 
upon  her  head,  and  then  he  kissed  her  before  the 
assembled  cavaliers,  who  broke  into  enthusiastic 
shouts  and  cries  of  happy  approbation. 

"There's  more  evidence  yet,"  cried  the  priest, 
thrusting  his  hand  into  the  bosom  of  his  habit  and 
drawing  forth  a  glittering  object.  "  Sir,  I  took  this 
from  the  body  of  Sister  Maria  Christina,  for  upon 
my  advice  she  entered  upon  the  service  of  the  Holy 
Church  after  her  bereavement,  keeping  her  secret, 
for  there  was  naught  to  be  gained  by  its  publication. 
That  Church  she  served  long  and  well.  Many  suf 
ferers  there  be  to  whom  she  ministered  who  will  rise 
up  and  call  her  blessed.  She  killed  herself  upon 
the  sands  rather  than  give  aid  and  comfort  to  this 
man  and  his  men,  or  submit  herself  to  the  evil 
desires  of  his  band.  Sirs,  I  have  lived  long  and  suf- 
26  401 


S'lR    HENRT  MORGAN 


fered  much,  and  done  some  little  service  for  Christ, 
His  Church,  and  His  children,  but  I  take  more  com 
fort  from  the  absolution  that  I  gave  her  when  she 
cried  for  mercy  against  the  sin  of  self -slaughter  than 
for  any  other  act  in  my  career.  Here,  young  sir," 
said  the  priest,  opening  the  locket,  "  are  the  pictures 
of  your  father  and  mother.  See,  cavaliers,  some  of 
you  knew  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman  and  can  recog 
nize  him.  That  is  nis  wife.  She  was  young  and  had 
golden  hair  like  thine,  my  son,  in  those  days.  You 
are  the  express  image  of  her  person  as  I  recall  it." 

"  My  father !  My  mother  !  "  cried  Alvarado. 
"  Look,  Mercedes,  look  your  Excellency,  and  gentle 
men,  all!  But  her  body,  worthy  father?  " 

"  Even  as  her  soul  hath  gone  out  into  the  new 
life  beyond,  her  body  was  drawn  out  into  the  great 
deep  at  the  call  of  God — but  not  unblessed,  senors, 
even  as  she  went  not  unshriven,  for  I  knelt  alone  by 
her  side,  unable  by  my  wounds  and  weakness  to  do 
more  service,  and  said  the  office  of  our  Holy 
Church." 

"  May  God  bless  thee,  as  I  bless  thee  !  "  answered 
Alvarado,  to  give  him  the  familiar  name. 

As  he  spoke  he  sank  on  his  knees  and  pressed  a 
long  and  fervent  kiss  upon  the  worn  and  withered 
hand  of  the  aged  man. 

"  It  is  not  meet,"  said  the  priest,  withdrawing  his 
402 


BUCCANEER 


hand  and  laying  it  in  blessing  upon  the  bowed  fair 
head.  "  That  which  was  lost  is  found  again.  Let  us 
rejoice  and  praise  God  for  His  mercy.  Donna 
Mercedes,  gentlemen,  my  blessing  on  Senor  de  Gruz- 
man  and  upon  ye  all.  Benedicite !  "  he  said,  making 
the  sign  of  the  cross. 


403 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

IN  WHICH  SIR  HENRY  MORGAN  APPEALS   UNAVAILINGLY  ALIKE 

TO  THE   PITY  OF  WOMAN,  THE    FORGIVENESS  OF  PRIEST, 

THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    COMRADE,    AND    THE    HATRED 

OF    MEN 


bless  me  also,  my  father,"  cried  Mer 
cedes,  kneeling  by  Alvarado's  side. 

"  Most  willingly,  my  fair  daughter," 
answered  the  old  man.  "  A  fit  help 
mate  indeed  thou  hast  shown  thyself  for  so  brave 
a  soldier.  By  your  leave,  your  Excellency.  You 
will  indulge  an  old  man's  desire  to  bless  the  marriage 
of  the  son  as  he  did  that  of  the  mother  ?  ~No  obstacle, 
I  take  it,  now  exists  to  prevent  this  most  happy 
union." 

"^"one,"  answered  the  Viceroy,  as  the  young 
people  rose  and  stood  before  him,  "  and  glad  I  am 
that  this  happy  solution  of  our  difficulties  has  come 
to  pass." 

<e  And  when,  sir,"  questioned  the  priest  further, 
"  may  I  ask  that  you  design— 

'  The  sooner  the  better,"  said  the  Viceroy  smiling 
grimly.  "  By  the  mass,  reverend  father,  I'll  feel 
easier  when  he  hath  her  in  his  charge !  " 

404 


BUCCANEER 


"I  shall  prove  as  obedient  to  thee  as  wife,  Don 

Francisco "  said  Mercedes  with  great  spirit, 

turning  to  him. 

"  Nay,  call  me  Alvarado,  sweet  lady/7  interrupted 
her  lover. 

"  Alvarado  then,  if  you  wish — for  it  was  under 
that  name  that  I  first  l©ved  thee — I  shall  prove  as 
obedient  a  wife  to  thee  as  I  was  a  dutiful  daughter 
to  thee,  my  father." 

"  7Tis  not  saying  o'er  much/7  commented  the 
Viceroy,  but  smiling  more  kindly  as  he  said  the 
words.  "  Nay,  I'll  take  that  back,  Mercedes,  or  mod 
ify  it.  Thou  hast,  indeed,  been  to  me  all  that  a 
father  could  ask,  until — 

"7Twas  my  fault,  your  Excellency.  On  me  be 
the  punishment/7  interrupted  the  lover. 

"Thou  shalt  have  it  with  Mercedes/7  answered 
the  Viceroy,  laughing  broadly  now.  "  What  say  ye, 
gentlemen  ? 77 

"My  lord/7  said  Agramonte,  from  his  age  and 
rank  assuming  to  speak  for  the  rest,  "  there  is  not 
one  of  us  who  would  not  give  all  he  possessed  to 
stand  in  the  young  Lord  de  Guzman7  s  place.77 

"  Well,  well/7  continued  the  old  man,  "  when  we 
have  restored  order  in  the  town  we  shall  have  a 
wedding  ceremony — say  to-morrow.77 


405 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


"  Ay,  ay,  to-morrow,  to-morrow !  "  crier  the  cava 
liers. 

"  Your  Excellency,  there  is  one  more  thing  yet  to 
be  done,"  said  Alvarado  as  soon  as  he  could  be  heard. 

"  Art  ever  making  objections,  Captain  Alvarado 
—Don  Francisco,  that  is.  We  might  think  you  had 
reluctance  to  the  bridal,"  exclaimed  the  Viceroy  in 
some  little  surprise.  "  What  is  it  now  ?  " 

"  The  punishment  of  this  man." 

"  I  gave  him  into  your  hands." 

"  By  God !  "  shouted  old  Hornigold,  "  I  wondered 
if  in  all  this  fathering  and  mothering  and  sweet- 
hearting  and  giving  in  marriage  he  had  forgot — 

"  Not  so.  The  postponement  but  makes  it 
deeper,"  answered  Alvarado  gravely.  "  Rest  satis 
fied." 

"  And  I  shall  have  my  revenge  in  full  measure  ?  " 

"  In  full,  in  overflowing  measure,  senor." 

"  Do  you  propose  to  shoot  me  ?  "  asked  the  buc 
caneer  chieftain  coolly.  "  Or  behead  me  ?  " 

"  That  were  a  death  for  an  honorable  soldier  taken 
in  arms  and  forced  to  bide  the  consequences  of  his 
defeat.  It  is  not  meet  for  you,"  answered  Alvarado. 

"What  then?  You'll  not  hang  me?  Me!  A 
knight  of  England!  Sometime  Governor  of 
Jamaica !  " 

1  These  titles  are  nothing  to  me.     And  hanging 
406 


BUCCANEER 


is  the  death  we  visit  upon  the  common  criminal,  a 
man  who  murders  or  steals,  or  blasphemes.  Your 
following  may  expect  that.  For  you  there  is " 

"  You  don't  mean  to  burn  me  alive,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Were  you  simply  a  heretic  that  might  be  meet, 
but  you  are  worse 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  cried  the  buccaneer,  car 
ried  away  by  the  cold-blooded  menace  in  Alvarado's 
words.  "  Neither  lead,  nor  steel,  nor  rope,  nor 
fire!" 

"  Neither  one  nor  the  other,  sir." 

"  Is  it  the  wheel?  The  rack?  The  thumbscrew? 
Sink  me,  ye  shall  see  how  an  Englishman  can  die ! 
Even  from  these  I  flinch  not." 

"  NOT  need  you,  from  these,  for  none  of  them 
shall  be  used,"  continued  the  young  soldier,  with 
such  calculating  ferocity  in  his  voice  that  in  spite  of 
his  dauntless  courage  and  intrepidity  the  blood  of 
Morgan  froze  within  his  veins. 

"  Death  and  destruction !  "  he  shouted.  "  What 
is  there  left  ?  " 

"  You  shall  die,  sefior,  not  so  much  by  the  hand  of 
man  as  by  the  act  of  God." 

"  God !     I  believe  in  none.     There  is  no  God !  " 

"  That  you  shall  see." 

"  Your  Excellency,  my  lords !    I  appeal  to  you  to 


407 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


save    me    from    this    man,    not    my    son    but    my 
nephew — 

"  S'death,  sirrah !  "  shouted  the  Viceroy,  en-raged 
bayond  measure  by  the  allusion  to  any  relationship, 
"  not  a  drop  of  your  base  blood  pollutes  his  veins. 
I  have  given  you  over  to  him.  He  will  attend  to 

you." 

"  What  means  he  to  do  then  ?  " 

"  You  shall  see." 

"When?" 

"  To-morrow." 

The  sombre,  sinister,  although  unknown  purpose 
of  the  Spaniards  had  new  terrors  lent  to  it  by  the 
utter  inability  of  the  buccaneer  to  foresee  what  was 
to  be  his  punishment.  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest 
courage,  the  stoutest  heart,  yet  in  that  hour  he  was 
astonied.  His  knees  smote  together;  he  clenched 
his  teeth  in  a  vain  effort  to  prevent  their  chattering. 
All  his  devilry,  his  assurance,  his  fortitude,  his 
strength,  seemed  to  leave  him.  He  stood  before 
them  suddenly  an  old,  a  broken  man,  facing  a  doom 
portentous  and  terrible,  without  a  spark  of  strength 
or  resolution  left  to  meet  it,  whatever  it  might  be. 
And  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  played  the 
craven,  the  coward.  He  moistened  his  dry  lips  and 
looked  eagerly  from  one  face  to  another  in  the  dark 
and  gloomy  ring  that  encircled  him. 

408 


BUCCANEER 


"  Lady/7  he  said  at  last,  turning  to  Mercedes  as 
the  most  likely  of  his  enemies  to  befriend  him, 
"  you  are  a  woman.  You  should  be  tender  hearted. 
You  don't  want  to  see  an  old  man,  old  enough  to  be 
your  father,  suffer  some  unknown,  awful  torture? 
Plead  for  me!  Ask  your  lover.  He  will  refuse 
you  nothing  now.77 

There  was  a  dead  silence  in  the  room.  Mercedes 
stared  at  the  miserable  wretch  making  his  despair 
ing  appeal  as  if  she  were  fascinated. 

"  Answer  him,77  said  her  stern  old  father,  "  as  a 
Spanish  gentlewoman  should.77 

It  was  a  grim  and  terrible  age.  The  gospel  under 
which  all  lived  in  those  days  was  not  that  of  the 
present.  It  was  a  gospel  writ  in  blood,  and  fire,  and 
steel. 

"An  eye  for  an  eye,77  said  the  girl  slowly,  "a 
tooth  for  a  tooth,  life  for  life,  shame  for  shame,77 
her  voice  rising  until  it  rang  through  the  room.  "  In. 
the  name  of  my  ruined  sisters,  whose  wails  come  to 
us  this  instant  from  without,  borne  hither  on  the 
night  wind,  I  refuse  to  intercede  for  you,  monster. 
For  myself,  the  insults  you  have  put  upon  me,  I 
might  forgive,  but  not  the  rest.  The  taking  of  one 
life  like  yours  can  not  repay.77 

"  You     hear  ? 77     cried     Alvarado.      "  Take     him 


away.7' 


409 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


"  One  moment/'  cried  Morgan.  "  Holy  Father — 
your  religion — it  teaches  to  forgive  they  say.  Inter 
cede  for  me !  " 

His  eyes  turned  with  faint  hope  toward  the  aged 
priest. 

"  Not  for  such  as  thou,"  answered  the  old  man 
looking  from  him.  "  I  could  forgive  this/7  he 
touched  his  battered  tonsure,  "  and  all  thou  hast 
done  against  me  and  mine.  That  is  not  little,  for 
when  I  was  a  lad,  a  youth,  before  I  took  the  priestly 
yoke  upon  me,  I  loved  Maria  Zerega — but  that  is 
nothing.  What  suffering  comes  upon  me  I  can  bear, 
but  thou  hast  filled  the  cup  of  iniquity  and  must 
drain  it  to  the  dregs.  Hark  ye — the  weeping  of  the 
desolated  town!  I  can  not  interfere!  They  that 
take  the  sword  shall  perish  by  it.  It  is  so  decreed. 
You  believe  not  in  God — 

"  I  will !  I  do  !  "  cried  the  buccaneer,  clutching 
at  the  hope. 

"  I  shall  pray  for  thee,  that  is  all." 

"  Hornigold,"  cried  the  now  almost  frenzied  man, 
his  voice  hoarse  with  terror  and  weakness,  "  they 
owe  much  to  you.  Without  you  they  had  not  been 
here.  I  have  wronged  you  grievously — terribly — 
but  I  atone  by  this.  Beg  them,  not  to  let  me  go  but 
only  to  kill  me  where  I  stand !  They  will  not  refuse 
you.  Had  it  not  been  for  you  this  man  would  not 

410 


BUCCANEER 


have  known  his  father.  He  could  not  have  won  this 
woman.  You  have  power.  You'll  not  desert  an  old 
comrade  in  his  extremity?  Think,  we  have  stood 
together  sword  in  hand  and  fought  our  way  through 
all  obstacles  in  many  a  desperate  strait.  Thou  and 
I,  old  shipmate.  By  the  memory  of  that  old  associa 
tion,  by  the  love  you  once  bore  me,  and  by  that  I 
gave  to  you,  ask  them  for  my  death,  here — now — at 
once !  " 

"  You  ask  for  grace  from  me !  "  snarled  Horni- 
gold  savagely,  yet  triumphant.  "  You — you  hanged 
my  brother ' 

"  I  know,  I  know !  'Twas  a  grievous  error.  I 
shall  be  punished  for  all — ask  them  to  shoot  me — 
hang  me — 

He  slipped  to  his  knees,  threw  himself  upon  the 
floor,  and  lay  grovelling  at  Hornigold's  feet." 

"  Don't  let  them  torture  me,  man !  My  God, 
what  is  it  they  intend  to  do  to  me  ?  " 

"  Beg,  you  hound !  "  cried  the  boatswain,  spurn 
ing  him  with  his  foot.  "  I  have  you  where  I  swore 
I'd  bring  you.  And,  remember,  'tis  I  that  laid  you 
low — I — I — "  He  shrieked  like  a  maniac.  "  When 
you  suffer  in  that  living  death  for  which  they  design 
you,  remember  with  every  lingering  breath  of 
anguish  that  it  was  I  who  brought  you  there !  You 
trifled  with  me — mocked  me — betrayed  me.  You 

411 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


denied  my  request.  I  grovelled  at  your  feet  and 
begged  you — you  spurned  me  as  I  do  you  now. 
Curse  you !  I'll  ask  no  mercy  for  you  !" 

"  My  lord/7  gasped  out  Morgan,  turning  to  the 
Viceroy  in  one  final  appeal,  as  two  of  the  men 
dragged  him  to  his  feet  again,  "  I  have  treasure. 
The  galleon  we  captured — it  is  buried — I  can  lead 
you  there." 

"  There  is  not  a  man  of  your  following,"  said  the 
Viceroy,  "  who  would  not  gladly  purchase  life  by 
the  same  means." 

"  And  'tis  not  needed,"  said  the  boatswain,  "  for 
I  have  told  them  where  it  lies." 

"  If  Teach  were  here,"  said  Morgan,  "  he  would 
stand  by  me." 

A  man  forced  his  way  into  the  circle  carrying  a 
sack  in  his  hand.  Drawing  the  strings  he  threw 
the  contents  at  the  feet  of  the  buccaneer,  and  there 
rolled  before  him  the  severed  head  of  the  only  man 
save  Black  Dog  upon  whom  he  could  have  depended, 
his  solitary  friend. 

Morgan  staggered  back  in  horror  from  the  ghastly 
object,  staring  at  it  as  if  fascinated. 

"  Ha,  ha !  Ho,  ho !  "  laughed  the  old  boatswain. 
"  What  was  it  that  he  sang?  <  We'll  be  damnably 
mouldy  ' — ay,  even  you  and  I  captain — '  an  hundred 


412 


he   threw   the   contents   at   the   feet  of   the  buc 
caneer,    and    there    rolled   before   him    the   severed   head    of 
his  solitary  friend. 


L  UCCANEER 


years  hence.'  But  should  you  live  so  long,  you'll 
not  forget  'twas  I." 

"  You  didn't  betray  me  then,  my  young  com 
rade,"  whispered  Morgan,  looking  down  at  the 
severed  head.  "  You  fought  until  you  were  killed. 
Would  that  my  head  might  lie  by  your  side." 

He  had  been  grovelling,  pleading,  weeping,  be 
seeching,  but  the  utter  uselessness  of  it  at  last  came 
upon  him  and  some  of  his  courage  returned.  He 
faced  them  once  more  with  head  uplifted. 

"At, your  will,  I'm  ready,"  he  cried.  -"I  defy 
you;!  You  shall  see  how  Harry  Morgan  can  die. 
Scuttle  me,  I'll  not  give  way  again !  " 

"  Take  him  away,"  said  Alvarado ;  "  we'll  attend 
to  him  in  the  morning." 

"Wait !  Give  me  leave,  since  I  am  now  tried  and 
condemned,  to  say  a  word." 

A  cunning  plan  had  flashed  into  the  mind  of  Mor 
gan,  and  he  resolved  to  put  it  in  execution. 

"  It  has  been  a  long  life,  mine,  and  a  merry  one. 
There's  more  blood  upon  my  hands — Spanish  biood, 
gentlemen — than  upon  those  of  any  other  human 
being.  There  was  Puerto  Principe.  Were  any  of 
you  there  ?  The  men  ran  like  dogs  before  me  there 
and  left  the  women  and  children.  I  wiped  my  feet 
upon  your  accursed  Spanish  flag.  I  washed  the 
blood  from  my  hands  with  hair  torn  from  the  heads 

415 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


of  your  wives,  your  sweethearts,  and  you  had  not 
courage  to  defend  them !  " 

A  low  murmur  of  rage  swept  through  the  room. 

"  But  that's  not  all.  Some  of  you  perhaps  were  at 
Porto  Bello.  I  drove  the  women  of  the  convents  to 
the  attack,  as  in  this  city  yesterday.  When  I  fin 
ished  I  burned  the  town — it  made  a  hot  fire.  I  did 
it — I — who  stand  here  !  I  and  that  cursed  one-eyed 
traitor  Hornigold,  there  !  " 

The  room  was  in  a  tumult  now.  Shouts,  and 
curses,  and  imprecations  broke  forth.  Weapons 
were  bared,  raised,  and  shaken  at  him.  The  buc 
caneer  laughed  and  sneered,  ineffable  contempt  pic 
tured  on  his  face. 

"  And  some  of  you  were  at  Santa  Clara,  at 
Chagres,  and  here  in  Venezuela  at  Maracaibo,  where 
we  sunk  the  ships  and  burned  your  men  up  like 
rats.  Then,  there  was  Panama.  We  left  the  men  to 
starve  and  die.  Your  mother,  Seiior  Agramonte — 
what  became  of  her?  Your  sister,  there!  Your 
wife,  here !  The  sister  of  your  mother,  you  young 
dog — what  became  of  them  all  ?  Hell  was  let  loose 
in  this  town  yesterday.  Panama  was  worse  than  La 
Guayra.  I  did  it — I — Harry  Morgan's  way  !  " 

He  thrust  himself  into  the  very  faces  of  the  men, 
and  with  cries  of  rage  they  rushed  upon  him.  They 
brushed  aside  the  old  Viceroy,  drowning  his  com- 

416 


BUCCANEER 


mands  with  their  shouts.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
interference  of  Hornigold  and  Alvarado  they  would 
have  cut  Morgan  to  pieces  where  he  stood.  And  this 
had  been  his  aim — to  provoke  them  beyond  meas 
ure  by  a  recital  of  some  of  his  crimes  so  that  he 
would  be  killed  in  their  fury.  But  the  old  boat 
swain  with  superhuman  strength  seized  the  bound 
captain  and  forced  him  into  a  corner  behind  a  table, 
while  Alvarado  with  lightning  resolution  beat  down 
the  menacing  sword  points. 

"  Back !  "  he  cried.  "  Do  you  not  see  he  wished 
to  provoke  this  to  escape  just  punishment?  I  would 
have  silenced  him  instantly  but  I  thought  ye  could 
control  yourselves.  I  let  him  rave  on  that  he  might 
be  condemned  out  of  his  own  mouth,  that  none  could 
have  doubt  that  he  merits  death  at  our  hands  to 
morrow.  Sheath  your  weapons  instantly,  gentle 
men  !  "  he  cried. 

"  Ay,"  said  the  Viceroy,  stepping  into  the  crowd 
and  endeavoring  to  make  himself  heard,  "  under 
pain  of  my  displeasure.  What,  soldiers,  nobles,  do 
ye  turn  executioners  in  this  way  ? " 

"  My  mother " 

"  My  sister " 

"  The  women  and  children " 

"  The  insult  to  the  flag— 

"  The  disgrace  to  the  Spanish  name !  " 
27  417 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 

"  That  he  should  say  these  things  and  live !  " 

"Peace,  sirs,  he  will  not  say  words  like  these 
to-morrow.  Now,  we  have  had  enough.  See ! " 
cried  the  old  Viceroy,  pointing  to  the  windows,  "  the 
day  breaks.  Take  him  away.  Agramonte,  to  you 
I  commit  the  fort.  Mercedes,  Alvarado,  come  with 
me.  Those  who  have  no  duties  to  perform,  go  get 
some  sleep.  As  for  you,  prisoner,  if  you  have  prep 
aration  to  make,  do  so  at  once,  for  in  the  morning 
you  shall  have  no  opportunity." 

"  I  am  ready  now !  "  cried  Morgan  recklessly, 
furious  because  he  had  been  balked  in  his  attempt. 
"  Do  with  me  as  you  will !  I  have  had  my  day,  and 
it  has  been  a  long  and  merry  one." 

"  And  I  mine,  to-night.  It  has  been  short,  but 
enough,"  laughed  Hornigold,  his  voice  ringing  like 
a  maniac's  in  the  hall.  "  For  I  have  had  my 
revenge !  " 

:i  We  shall  take  care  of  that  in  the  morning,"  said 
Alrarado,  turning  away  to  follow  the  Viceroy  and 
Mercedes. 


418 


BOOK  VI 

IN  WHICH   THE   CAREER   OF  SIR  HENRY   MORGAN    IS 

ENDED  ON  ISLA  DE  LA  TORTUGA,  TO  THE  GREAT 

DELECTATION  OF  MASTER  BENJAMIN  HORN1- 

GOLD,    HIS   SOMETIME    FRIEND 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN,    BUCCANEER 


CHAPTER   XXV 

AND  LAST.      WHEREIN  IS  SEEN  HOW  THE  JUDGMENT  OF  GOD 
CAME   UPON   THE   BUCCANEERS   IN   THE   END 

EFORE  it  was  submerged  by  the  great 
earthquake  which  so  tremendously 
overwhelmed  the  shores  of  South 
America  with  appalling  disaster  nearly 
a  century  and  a  half  later,  a  great  arid  rock  on  an 
encircling  stretch  of  sandy  beach — resultant  of  un 
told  centuries  of  struggle  between  stone  and  sea — 
thrust  itself  above  the  waters  a  few  miles  northward 
of  the  coast  of  Venezuela.  The  cay  was  barren  and 
devoid  of  any  sort  of  life  except  for  a  single  clump 
of  bushes  that  had  sprung  up  a  short  distance  from 
the  huge  rock  upon  a  little  plateau  sufficiently  ele 
vated  to  resist  the  attacks  of  the  sea,  which  at  high 
tide  completely  overflowed  the  islet  except  at  that 
one  spot. 

Four  heavy  iron  staples  had  been  driven  with 
great  difficulty  into  holes  drilled  in  the  face  of  the 
volcanic  rock.  To  these  four  large  chains  had  been 
made  fast.  The  four  chains  ended  in  four  fetters 

421 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


and  the  four  fetters  enclosed  the  ankles  and  wrists  of 
a  man.  The  length  of  the  four  chains  had  been  so 
cunningly  calculated  that  the  arms  and  legs  of  the 
man  were  drawn  far  apart,  so  that  he  resembled  a 
gigantic  white  cross  against  the  dark  surface  of  the 
stone.  A  sailor  would  have  described  his  position 
by  saying  that  he  had  been  "  spread-eagled "  by 
those  who  had  fastened  him  there.  Yet  the  chains 
were  not  too  short  to  allow  a  little  freedom  of  mo 
tion.  He  could  incline  to  one  side  or  to  the  other, 
lift  himself  up  or  down  a  little,  or  even  thrust  him 
self  slightly  away  from  the  face  of  the  rock. 

The  man  was  in  tatters,  for  his  clothing  had  been 
rent  and  torn  by  the  violent  struggles  he  had  made 
before  he  had  been  securely  fastened  in  his  chains. 
He  was  an  old  man,  and  his  long  gray  hair  fell  on 
either  side  of  his  lean,  fierce  face  in  tangled  masses. 
A  strange  terror  of  death — the  certain  fate  that 
menaced  him,  was  upon  his  countenance.  He  had 
borne  himself  bravely  enough  except  for  a  few 
craven  moments,  while  in  the  presence  of  his  captors 
and  judges,  chief  among  whom  had  been  the  young 
Spanish  soldier  and  the  one-eyed  sailor  whom  he  had 
known  for  so  many  years.  With  the  bravado  of 
despair  he  had  looked  with  seeming  indifference  on 
the  sufferings  of  his  own  men  that  same  morning. 
After  being  submitted  to  the  tortures  of  the  rack, 


BUCCANEER 


the  boot,  the  thumbscrew,  or  the  wheel,  in  accord 
ance  with  the  fancy  of  their  relentless  captors,  they 
had  been  hanged  to  the  outer  walls  and  he  had  been 
forced  to  pass  by  them  on  his  way  to  this  hellish 
spot.  But  the  real  courage  of  the  man  was  gone  now. 
His  simulation  had  not  even  been  good  enough  to 
deceive  his  enemies,  and  now  even  that  had  left  him. 

He  was  alone,  so  he  believed,  upon  the  island,  and 
all  of  the  mortal  fear  slowly  creeping  upon  him 
already  appeared  in  his  awful  face,  clearly  exhibited 
by  the  light  of  the  setting  sun  streaming  upon  his 
left  hand  for  he  was  chained  facing  northward,  that 
is,  seaward.  As  he  fancied  himself  the  only  living 
thing  upon  that  island  he  took  little  care  to  conceal 
his  emotions — indeed,  it  was  impossible  for  him  any 
longer  to  keep  up  the  pretence  of  indifference.  His 
nerves  were  shattered,  his  spirit  broken.  Retribu 
tion  was  dogging  him  hard.  Vengeance  was  close 
at  hand  at  last.  Besides,  what  mattered  it?  He 
thought  himself  alone,  absolutely  alone.  But  in  that 
fancy  he  was  wrong,  for  in  the  solitary  little  copse 
of  bushes  of  which  mention  has  been  made  there  lay 
hidden  a  man — an  ancient  sailor.  His  single  eye 
gleamed  as  fiercely  upon  the  bound,  shackled  pris 
oner  as  did  the  setting  sun  itself. 

Old  Benjamin  Hornigold,  who  had  schemed  and 
planned  for  his  revenge,  had  insisted  upo  i  being  put 

423 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


ashore  on  the  other  side  of  the  island  after  the  boats 
had  rowed  out  of  sight  of  the  captive,  that  he  might 
steal  back  and,  himself  unseen,  watch  the  torture  of 
the  man  who  had  betrayed  him  and  wronged  him  so 
deeply  that  in  his  diseased  mind  no  expiation  could 
be  too  awful  for  the  crime;  that  he  might  glut  his 
fierce  old  soul  with  the  sight  for  which  it  had  longed 
since  the  day  Harry  Morgan,  beholden  to  him  as  he 
was  for  his  very  life  and  fortune,  for  a  thousand 
brave  and  faithful,  if  nefarious,  services,  had  driven 
him  like  a  dog  from  his  presence.  Alvarado — who, 
being  a  Spaniard,  could  sympathize  and  understand 
the  old  sailor's  lust  for  revenge — had  readily  com 
plied  with  his  request,  and  had  further  promised  to 
return  for  the  boatswain  in  two  days.  They  cal 
culated  nicely  that  the  already  exhausted  prisoner 
would  scarcely  survive  that  long,  and  provisions  and 
water  ample  for  that  period  had  been  left  for  the 
sustenance  of  ITornigold — alone. 

Morgan,  however,  did  not  know  this.  He  believed 
his  only  companions  to  be  the  body  of  the  half-breed 
who  had  died  for  him  as  he  had  lived  for  him,  and 
the  severed  head  of  a  newer  comrade  who  had  not 
betrayed  him.  The  body  lay  almost  at  his  feet ;  the 
head  had  been  wedged  in  the  sand  so  that  its  sight 
less  face  was  turned  toward  him  in  the  dreadful,  lid- 
less  staring  gaze  of  sudden  death.  And  those  two 

424 


BUCCANEER 


were  companions  with  whom  he  could  better  have 
dispensed,  even  in  his  solitude. 

They  had  said  to  the  buccaneer,  as  they  fastened 
him  to  the  rocks,  that  they  would  not  take  his  life, 
but  that  he  would  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  God. 
What  would  that  be  ?  He  thought  he  knew. 

He  had  lived  long  enough  on  the  Caribbean  to 
know  the  habits  of  that  beautiful  and  cruel  sea. 
There  was  a  little  stretch  of  sand  at  his  feet  and  then 
the  water  began.  He  estimated  that  the  tide  had 
been  ebbing  for  an  hour  or  so  when  he  was  fastened 
up  and  abandoned.  The  rock  to  which  he  had  been 
chained  was  still  wet,  and  he  noticed  that  the  damp 
ness  existed  far  above  his  head.  The  water  would 
recede — and  recede — and  recede — until  perhaps 
some  three  hundred  feet  of  bare  sand  would  stretch 
before  him,  and  then  it  would  turn  and  come  back, 
back,  back.  Where  would  it  stop  ?  How  high  would 
it  rise  ?  Would  it  flood  in  in  peaceful  calm  as  it  was 
then  drawing  away?  Would  it  come  crashing  in 
heavy  assault  upon  the  sands  as  it  generally  did, 
beating  out  his  life  against  the  rock  ?  He  could  not 
tell.  He  gazed  at  it  intently  so  long  as  there  was 
light,  endeavoring  to  decide  the  momentous  question. 
To  watch  it  was  something  to  do.  It  gave  him 
mental  occupation,  and  so  he  stared  and  stared  at  the 
slowly  withdrawing  water-line. 

425 


SIR    HENRT  MORGAN 


Of  the  two  he  thought  he  should  prefer  a  storm. 
He  would  be  beaten  to  pieces,  the  life  battered  out  of 
him  horribly  in  that  event;  but  that  would  be  a 
battle,  a  struggle,— action.  He  could  fight,  if  he 
could  not  wait  and  endure.  It  would  be  a  terrible 
death,  but  it  would  be  soon  over  and,  therefore,  he 
preferred  it  to  the  slow  horror  of  watching  the  ap 
proach  of  the  waters  creeping  in  and  up  to  drown 
him.  The  chief  agony  of  his  position,  however,  the 
most  terrifying  feature  in  this  dreadful  situation  to 
which  his  years  of  crime  had  at  last  brought  him, 
was  that  he  was  allowed  no  choice.  He  had  always 
been  a  man  of  swift,  prompt,  bold  action;  self- 
reliant,  fearless,  resolute,  a  master  not  a  server; 
accustomed  to  determine  events  in  accordance  with 
his  own  imperious  will,  and  wont  to  bring  them 
about  as  he  planned.  To  be  chained  there,  impotent, 
helpless,  waiting,  indeed,  the  judgment  of  God,  was 
a  thing  which  it  seemed  impossible  for  him  to  bear. 
The  indecision  of  it,  the  uncertainty  of  it,  added  to 
his  helplessness  and  made  it  the  more  appalling  to 
him. 

The  judgment  of  God!  He  had  never  believed 
in  a  God  since  his  boyhood  days,  and  he  strove  to 
continue  in  his  faithlessness  now.  He  had  been  a 
brave  man,  dauntless  and  intrepid,  but  eold,  par- 

426 


BUCCANEER 


alyzing  fear  now  gripped  him  by  the  heart.  A  few 
lingering  sparks  of  the  manhood  and  courage  of  the 
past  that  not  even  his  crimes  had  deprived  him  of 
still  remained  in  his  being,  however,  and  he  strove 
as  best  he  might  to  control  the  beating  of  his  heart, 
to  still  the  trembling  of  his  arms  and  legs  which 
shook  the  chains  against  the  stone  face  of  the  rock 
making  them  ring  out  in  a  faint  metallic  clinking, 
which  was  the  sweetest  music  that  had  ever  pierced 
the  eager  hollow  of  the  ear  of  the  silent  listener  and 
watcher  concealed  in  the  thicket.  • 

So  long  as  it  was  light  Morgan  intently  watched 
the  sea.  There  was  a  sense  of  companionship  in  it 
which  helped  to  alleviate  his  unutterable  loneliness. 
And  he  was  a  man  to  whom  loneliness  in  itself  was 
a  punishment.  There  were  too  many  things  in  the 
past  that  had  a  habit  of  making  their  presence  felt 
when  he  was  alone,  for  him  ever  to  desire  to  be 
solitary.  Presently  the  sun  disappeared  with  the 
startling  suddenness  of  tropic  latitudes,  and  without 
twilight  darkness  fell  over  the  sea  and  over  his  hag 
gard  face  like  a  veil.  The  moon  had  not  yet  risen 
and  he  could  see  nothing.  There  were  a  few  faint 
clouds  on  the  horizon,  he  had  noticed,  which  might 
presage  a  storm.  It  was  very  dark  and  very  still,  as 
calm  and  peaceful  a  tropic  night  as  ever  shrouded 

427 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


the  Caribbean.  Farther  and  farther  away  from  him 
he  could  hear  the  rustle  of  the  receding  waves  as  the 
tide  went  down.  Over  his  head  twinkled  the  stars 
out  of  the  deep  darkness. 

In  that  vast  silence  he  seemed  to  hear  a  voice,  still 
and  small,  talking  to  him  in  a  faint  whisper  that  yet 
pierced  the  very  centre  of  his  being.  All  that  it 
said  was  one  word  repeated  over  and  over  aerain, 

•I-  O  7 

"  God — God — God  !  "  The  low  whisper  beat  into 
his  brain  and  began  to  grow  there,  rising  louder  and 
louder  in  its  iteration  until  the  whole  vaulted  heaven 
throbbed  with  the  ringing  sound  of  it.  He  listened 
—listened — it  seemed  for  hours — until  his  heart 
burst  within  him.  At  last  he  screamed  and 
screamed,  again  and  again,  "  Yes — yes !  Now  I 
know — I  know!  "  And  still  the  sound  beat  on. 

He  saw  strange  shapes  in  the  darkness.  One  that 
rose  and  rose,  and  grew  and  grew,  embracing  all  the 
others  until  its  head  seemed  to  touch  the  stars,  and 
ever  it  spoke  that  single  word  "  God — God — God!  " 
He  could  not  close  his  eyes,  but  if  he  had  been  able 
to  raise  his  hand  he  would  have  hid  his  face.  The 
wind  blew  softly,  it  was  warm  and  tender,  yet  the 
man  shivered  with  cold,  the  sweat  beaded  his  brow. 

Then  the  moon  sprang  up  as  suddenly  as  the  sun 
had  fallen.  Her  silver  radiance  flooded  the  firma- 

428 


BUCCANEER 


ment.  Light,  heavenly  light  once  more!  He  was 
alone.  The  voice  was  still;  the  shadow  left  him. 
Far  away  from  him  the  white  line  of  the  water  was 
breaking  on  the  silver  sand.  His  own  cry  came  back 
to  him  and  frightened  him  in  the  dead  silence. 

Now  the  tide  turned  and  came  creeping  in.  It 
had  gone  out  slowly;  it  had  lingered  as  if  reluctant 
to  leave  him ;  but  to  his  distraught  vision  it  returned 
with  the  swiftness  of  a  thousand  white  horses  tossing 
their  wind-blown  manes.  The  wind  died  down;  the 
clouds  were  dissipated.  The  night  was  so  very  calm, 
it  mocked  the  storm  raging  in  his  soul.  And  still  the 
silvered  water  came  flooding  in;  gently — tenderly — 
caressingly — the  little  waves  lapped  the  sands.  At 
last  they  lifted  the  ghastly  head  of  young  Teach — • 
he'd  be  damnably  mouldy  a  hundred  years  hence ! — 
and  laid  it  at  his  feet. 

He  cursed  the  rising  water,  and  bade  it  stay — 
and  heedlessly  it  came  on.  It  was  a  tropic  sea  and 
the  waters  were  as  warm  as  those  of  any  sun-kissed 
ocean,  but  they  broke  upon  his  knees  with  the  cold 
ness  of  eternal  ice.  They  rolled  the  heavier  body  of 
his  faithful  slave  against  him — he  strove  to  drive  it 
away  with  his  foot  as  he  had  striven  to  thrust  aside 
the  ghastly  head,  and  without  avail.  The  two 
friends  receded  as  the  waves  rolled  back  but  they 

429 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


came  on  again,  and  again,  and  again.  They  had 
been  faithful  to  him  in  life,  they  remained  with  him 
in  death. 

Now  the  water  broke  about  his  waist;  now  it  rose 
to  his  breast.  He  was  exhausted;  worn  out.  He 
hung  silent,  staring.  His  mind  was  busy;  his 
thought  went  back  to  that  rugged  Welsh  land  where 
he  had  been  born.  He  saw  himself  a  little  boy  play 
ing  in  the  fields  that  surrounded  the  farmhouse  of 
his  father  and  mother. 

lie  took  again  that  long  trip  across  the  ocean.  Ho 
lived  again  in  the  hot  hell  of  the  Caribbean.  Old 
forms  of  forgotten  buccaneers  clustered  about  him. 
Mansf  elt,  under  whom  he  had  first  become  prominent 
himself.  There  on  the  horizon  rose  the  walls  of  a 
sleeping  town.  With  his  companions  he  slowly  crept 
forward  through  the  underbrush,  slinking  along  like 
a  tiger  about  to  spring  upon  its  prey.  The  doomed 
town  flamed  before  his  eyes.  The  shrieks  of  men, 
the  prayers  of  women,  the  piteous  cries  of  little 
children  came  into  his  ears  across  forty  years. 

Cannon  roared  in  his  ear — the  crash  of  splintered 
wood,  the  despairing  appeals  for  mercy,  for  help, 
from  drowning  mariners,  as  he  stood  upon  a  bloody 
deck  watching  the  rolling  of  a  shattered,  sinking 
ship.  Was  that  water,  spray  from  some  tossing 
wave,  or  blood,  upon  his  hand? 

430 


BUCCANEER 


The  water  was  higher  now;  it  was  at  his  neck. 
There  were  Porto  Bello,  Puerto  Principe,  and  Mara- 
caibo,  and  Chagres  and  Panama — ah,  Panama !  All 
the  fiends  of  hell  had  been  there,  and  he  had  been 
their  chief !  They  came  back  now  to  mock  him. 
They  pointed  at  him,  gibbered  upon  him,  threatened 
him,  and  laughed — great  God,  how  they  laughed ! 

There  was  pale-faced,  tender-eyed  Maria  Zerega 
who  had  died  of  the  plague,  and  the  baby,  the  boy. 
Jamaica,  too,  swept  into  his  vision.  There  was  his 
wife  shrinking  away  from  him  in  the  very  articles  of 
death.  There  was  young  Ebenezer  Hornigold, 
dancing  right  merrily  upon  the  gallows  together  with 
others  of  the  buccaneers  he  had  hanged. 

The  grim  figure  of  the  one-eyed  boatswain  rose 
before  him  and  leered  upon  him  and  swept  the  other 
apparitions  away.  This  was  La  Guayra — yesterday. 
He  had  been  betrayed.  Whose  men  were  those?  The 
men  hanging  on  the  walls  ?  And  Hornigold  had  done 
it — old  Ben  Hornigold — that  he  thought  so  faithful. 

He  screamed  aloud  again  with  hate,  he  called 
down  curses  upon  the  head  of  the  growing  one-eyed 
apparition.  And  the  water  broke  into  his  mouth  and 
stopped  him.  It  called  him  to  his  senses  for  a 
moment.  His  present  peril  overcame  the  hideous 
recollection  of  the  past.  That  water  was  rising  still. 

431 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


Great  God !  At  last  he  prayed.  Lips  that  had  only 
cursed  shaped  themselves  into  futile  petitions.  There 
was  a  God,  after  all. 

The  end  was  upon  him,  yet  with  the  old  instinct 
of  life  he  lifted  himself  upon  his  toes.  He  raised  his 
arms  as  far  as  the  chains  gave  him  play  and  caught 
the  chains  themselves  and  strove  to  pull,  to  lift,  at 
last  only  to  hold  himself  up,  a  rigid,  awful  figure. 
He  gained  an  inch  or  two,  but  his  fetters  held  him 
down.  As  the  water  supported  him  he  found  little 
difficulty  in  maintaining  the  position  for  a  space. 
But  he  could  go  no  higher — if  the  water  rose  an  inch 
more  that  would  be  the  end.  He  could  breathe  only 
between  the  breaking  waves  now. 

The  body  of  the  black  was  swung  against  him 
again  and  again;  the  head  of  young  Teach  kissed 
him  upon  the  cheek;  and  still  the  water  seemed  to 
rise,  and  rise,  and  rise.  He  was  a  dead  man  like  the 
other  two,  indeed  he  prayed  to  die,  and  yet  in  fear 
he  clung  to  the  chains  and  held  on.  Each  moment 
he  fancied  would  be  his  last.  But  he  could  not  let 
go.  Oh,  God !  how  he  prayed  for  a  storm ;  that  one 
fierce  wave  might  batter  him  to  pieces;  but  the 
waters  were  never  more  calm  than  on  that  long,  still 
night,  the  sea  never  more  peaceful  than  in  those 
awful  hours. 

432 


BUCCANEER 


By  and  by  the  waters  fell.  He  could  not  believe 
it  at  first.  He  still  hung  suspended  and  waited  with 
bated  breath.  Was  he  deceived?  ~No,  the  waters 
were  surely  falling.  The  seconds  seemed  minutes  to 
him,  the  minutes,  hours.  At  last  he  gained  assur 
ance.  There  was  no  doubt  but  that  the  tide  was 
going  down.  The  waves  had  risen  far,  but  he  had 
been  lifted  above  them;  now  they  were  falling,  fall 
ing  !  Yes,  and  they  were  bearing  away  that  accursed 
body  and  that  ghastly  head.  He  was  alive  still, 
saved  for  the  time  being.  The  highest  waves  only 
touched  his  breast  now.  Lower — lower — they  moved 
away.  Keluctantly  they  lingered;  but  they  fell, 
they  fell. 

To  drown?  That  was  not  the  judgment  of  God 
for  him  then.  What  would  it  be?  His  head  fell 
forward  on  his  breast — he  had  fainted  in  the  sudden 
relief  of  his  undesired  salvation. 

Long  time  he  hung  there  and  still  the  tide  ebbed 
away,  carrying  with  it  all  that  was  left  of  the  only 
two  who  had  loved  him.  He  was  alone  now,  surely, 
save  for  that  watcher  in  the  bushes.  After  a  while 
consciousness  returned  to  him  again,  and  after  the 
first  swift  sense  of  relief  there  came  to  him  a  deeper 
terror,  for  he  had  gone  through  the  horror  and  an 
guish  of  death  and  had  not  died.  He  was  alive  still, 
but  as  helpless  as  before. 

28  433 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


What  had  the  Power  he  had  mocked  designed  for 
his  end  ?  Was  he  to  watch  that  ghastly  tide  come  in 
again  and  rise,  and  rise,  and  rise  until  it  caught  him 
by  the  throat  and  threatened  to  choke  him,  only  to 
release  him  as  before?  Was  he  to  go  through  that 
daily  tprture  until  he  starved  or  died  of  thirst?  He 
had  not  had  a  bite  to  eat,  a  drop  to  drink,  since  the 
day  before. 

It  was  morning  now.  On  his  right  hand  the  sun 
sprang  from  the  ocean  bed  with  the  same  swiftness 
with  which  it  had  departed  the  night  before/ 
Like  the  tide,  it,  too,  rose,  and  rose.  There 
was  not  a  cloud  to  temper  the  fierceness  with  which 
it  beat  upon  his  head,  not  a  breath  of  air  to  blow 
across  his  fevered  brow.  The  blinding  rays  struck 
him  like  hammers  of  molten  iron.  He  stared  at  it 
out  of  his  frenzied,  blood-shot  eyes  and  writhed  be 
neath  its  blazing  heat.  Before  him  the  white  sand 
burned  like  smelted  silver,  beyond  him  the  tremulous 
ocean  seemed  to  seethe  and  bubble  under  the  furious 
fire  of  the  glowing  heaven  above  his  head — a  vault 
of  flaming  topaz  over  a  sapphire  sea. 

He  closed  his  eyes,  but  could  not  shut  out  the 
sight — and  then  the  dreams  of  night  came  on  him 
again.  His  terrors  were  more  real,  more  apparent, 
more  appalling,  because  he  saw  Us  dreaded  visions 

434 


BUCCANEER 


in  the  full  light  of  day.  By  and  by  these  faded  as 
the  others  had  done.  All  his  faculties  were  merged 
into  one  consuming  desire  for  water — water.  The 
thirst  was  intolerable.  Unless  he  could  get  some  his 
brain  would  give  way.  He  was  dying,  dying,  dying ! 
Oil,  God,  he  could  not  die,  he  was  not  ready  to  die ! 
Oh,  for  one  moment  of  time,  for  one  drop  of  water 
—God— God— God! 

Suddenly  before  his  eyes  there  arose  a  figure.  At 
first  he  fancied  it  was  another  of  the  apparitions 
which  had  companied  with  him  during  the  awful 
night  and  morning;  but  this  was  a  human  figure,  an 
old  man,  bent,  haggard  like  himself  with  watching, 
but  with  a  fierce  mad  joy  in  his  face.  Where  had  he 
come  from  ?  Who  was  he  ?  What  did  he  want  ?  The 
figure  glared  upon  the  unhappy  man  with  one  fiery 
eye,  and  then  he  lifted  before  the  captive's  dis 
torted  vision  something — what  was  it — a  cup  of 
water?  Water — God  in  heaven — water  brimming 
over  the  cup !  It  was  just  out  of  reach  of  his  lips— 
so  cool,  so  sweet,  so  inviting!  He  strained  at  his 
chains,  bent  his  head,  thrust  his  lips  out.  He  could 
almost  touch  it — not  quite!  He  struggled  and 
struggled  and  strove  to  break  his  fetters,  but  without 
avail.  Those  fetters  could  not  be  broken  by  the 
hand  of  man.  He  could  not  drink — ah,  God ! — then 

435 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


lie  lifted  his  blinded  eyes  and  searched  the  face  of 
the  other. 

"  Hornigold !  "  he  whispered  hoarsely  with  his 
parched  and  stiffened  lips.  "  Is  it  thou  ?  " 

A  deep  voice  beat  into  his  consciousness. 

"  Ay.  I  wanted  to  lot  you  know  there  was  water 
here.  You  must  be  thirsty.  You'd  like  a  drink?  So 
would  I.  There  is  not  enough  for  both  of  us.  Who 
will  get  it?  I.  Look!  " 

"Not  all,  not  all!"  screamed  the  old  captain 
faintly,  as  the  other  drained  the  cup.  "  A  little!  A 
drop  for  me!  " 

"  ^ot  one  drop/'  answered  Hornigold,  "  not  one 
drop !  If  you  were  in  hell  and  I  held  a  river  in 
iny  hand,  you  would  not  get  a  drop !  It's  gone." 

He  threw  the  cup  from  him. 

"  I  brought  you  to  this — I !  Do  you  recall  it  ? 
You  owe  this  to  me.  You  had  your  revenge — this 
is  mine.  But  it's  not  over  yet.  I'm  watching  you. 
I  shall  not  come  out  here  again,  but  I'm  watching 
you,  remember  that !  I  can  see  you !  " 

"  Hornigold,  for  God's  sake,  have  pity!  " 

"  You  know  no  God ;  you  have  often  boasted  of  it 
— neither  do  I.  And  you  never  knew  pity — neither 
do  I !  " 

"  Take  that  knife  you  bear — kill  me !  " 
43G 


"I  wanted  to  let  you  know  there  was  water  here.    .    .    .      There 
is  not  enough  for  both  of  us.      Who  will  get  it  ?      I  ;   look  !  " 


BUCCANEER 


"  I  don't  want  you  to  die — not  yet.  I  want  you  to 
live — live — a  long  time,  and  remember  !  " 

"  Hornigold,  I'll  make  amends !  I'll  be  your 
slave !  " 

"  Ay,  crawl  and  cringe  now,  you  dog !  I  swore 
that  you  should  do  it !  It's  useless  to  beg  me  for 
mercy.  I  know  not  that  word — neither  did  you. 
There  is  nothing  left  in  me  but  hate — hate  for  you. 
1  want  to  see  you  suffer — 

"  The  tide !  It's  coming  back.  I  can't  endure 
this  heat  and  thirst !  It  won't  drown  me — 

"  Live,  then,"  said  the  boatswain.  "  Remember, 
I  watch!" 

He  threw  his  glance  upward,  stopped  suddenly,  a 
fierce  light  in  that  old  eye  of  his. 

"  Look  up,"  he  cried,  "  and  you  will  see !  Take 
heart,  man.  I  guess  you  won't  have  to  wait  for  the 
tide,  and  the  sun  won't  bother  you  long.  Remember, 
I  am  watching  you !  " 

He  turned  and  walked  away,  concealing  himself 
in  the  copse  once  more  where  he  could  see  and  not 
be  seen.  The  realization  that  he  was  watched  by 
one  whom  he  could  not  see,  one  who  gloated  over  his 
miseries  and  sufferings  and  agonies,  added  the  last 
touch  to  the  torture  of  the  buccaneer.  He  had  no 
longer  strength  nor  manhood,  he  no  longer  cried  out 

439 


SIR    HENRY   MORGAN 


after  that  one  last  appeal  to  the  merciless  sailor. 
He  did  not  even  look  up  in  obedience  to  the  old  man's 
injunction.  What  was  there  above  him,  beneath 
him,  around  him,  that  could  add  to  his  fear  ?  He 
prayed  for  death.  They  were  the  first  and  last 
prayers  that  had  fallen  from  his  lips  for  fifty  years, 
those  that  day.  Yet  when  death  did  come  at  last  he 
shrank  from  it  with  an  increasing  terror  and  horror 
that  made  all  that  he  had  passed  through  seem  like  a 
trifle. 

When  old  Hornigold  had  looked  up  he  had  seen  a 
speck  in  the  vaulted  heaven.  It  was  slowly  soaring 
around  and  around  in  vast  circles,  and  with  each 
circle  coming  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  ground.  A 
pair  of  keen  and  powerful  eyes  were  aloft  there 
piercing  the  distance,  looking,  searching,  in  every 
direction,  until  at  last  their  glance  fell  upon  the 
figure  upon  the  rock.  The  circling  stopped.  There 
was  a  swift  rush  through  the  air.  A  black  feathered 
body  passed  between  the  buccaneer  and  the  sun, 
and  a  mighty  vulture,  hideous  bird  of  the  tropics, 
alighted  on  the  sands  near  by  him. 

So  this  was  the  judgment  of  God  upon  this  man ! 
For  a  second  his  tortured  heart  stopped  its  beating. 
He  stared  at  the  unclean  thing,  and  then  he  shrank 
back  against  the  rock  and  screamed  with  frantic 

440 


Hell  had  no  terror  like  to  this,    which    he,   living,   suffered. 


BUCCANEER 


terror.  The  bird  moved  heavily  back  a  little  dis 
tance  and  stopped,  peering  at  him.  He  could  see  it 
by  turning  his  head.  He  could  drive  it  no  farther. 
In  another  moment  there  was  another  rush  through 
the  air,  another,  another !  He  screamed  again.  Still 
they  came,  until  it  seemed  as  if  the  earth  and  the 
heavens  were  black  with  the  horrible  birds.  High 
in  the  air  they  had  seen  the  first  one  swooping  to  the . 
earth,  and  with  unerring  instinct,  as  was  their  habit, 
had  turned  and  made  for  the  point  from  which  the 
first  had  dropped  downward  to  the  shore. 

They  circled  themselves  about  him.  They  sat 
upon  the  rock  above  him.  They  stared  at  him  with 
their  lustful,  carrion,  jeweled  eyes  out  of  their  loath 
some,  featherless,  naked  heads,  drawing  nearer- 
nearer — nearer.  He  could  do  no  more.  His  voice 
was  gone.  His  strength  was  gone.  He  closed  his 
eyes,  but  the  sight  was  still  before  him.  His  bleed 
ing,  foamy  lips  mumbled  one  unavailing  word : 

"Hornigold!" 

From  the  copse  there  came  no  sound,  no  answer. 
He  sank  forward  in  his  chains,  his  head  upon  his 
breast,  convulsive  shudders  alone  proclaiming  falter 
ing  life.  Hell  had  no  terror  like  to  this  which  he, 
living,  suffered. 

There  was  a  weight  upon  his  shoulder  now   fierce 
443 


SIR    HENRT   MORGAN 


talons  sank  deep  into  his  quivering  flesh.  In  front 
of  his  face,  before  a  pair  of  lidless  eyes  that  glowed 
like  fire,  a  hellish,  cruel  beak  struck  at  him.  A  faint, 
low,  ghastly  cry  trembled  through  the  still  air. 

And  the  resistless  tide  came  in.  A  man  drove 
away  the  birds  at  last  before  they  had  quite  taken 
all,  for  the  torn  arms  still  hung  in  the  iron  fetters; 
an  old  man,  blind  of  one  eye,  the  black  patch  torn  off 
the  hideous  hole  that  had  replaced  the  socket.  He 
capered  with  the  nimbleness  of  youth  before  the 
ghastly  remains  of  humanity  still  fastened  to  that 
rock.  He  shouted  and  screamed,  and  laughed  and 
sang.  The  sight  had  been  too  horrible  even  for  him. 
He  Avas  mad,  crazy ;  his  mind  was  gone.  He  had  his 
revenge,  and  it  had  eaten  him  up. 

The  waters  dashed,  about  his  feet  and  seemed  to 
awaken  some  new  idea  in  his  disordered  brain. 

"  What !  "  he  cried,  "  the  tide  is  in.  Up  anchor, 
lads !  We  must  beat  out  to  sea.  Captain,  I'll  follow 
you.  Harry  Morgan's  way  to  lead — old  Ben  Horni- 
gold's  to  follow — ha,  ha!  ho,  ho !  " 

He  waded  out  into  the  water,  slowly  going  deeper 
and  deeper.  A  wave  swept  him  off  -his  feet.  A 
hideous  laugh  came  floating  back  over  the  sea,  and 
then  he  struck  out,  and  out,  and  out 


444 


BUCCANEER 


And  so  the  judgment  of  God  was  visited  upon  Sir 
Henry  Morgan  and  his  men  at  last,  and  as  it  was 
writ  of  old : 

With  what  measure  they  had  meted  out,  it  had  been 
measured  lack  to  them  again  ! 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

Return  to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


26. 


DEC  23  1958 

OCT  24  19667 


RECEIVED 

OCT1V66-IOAM 
LOAN  DEPT. 


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M304034 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


